The Crown Estate, which manages the UK’s coastal waters, has granted a lease agreement to Eco2 and its subsidiary Tidal Energy to develop a tidal energy project in Wales.
Tidal Energy will now be able to seek the necessary marine consents for the site off St David’s Head in Pembrokeshire.
If all the necessary agreements are secured, then the Crown Estate will grant Tidal Energy a full lease so that the construction and operation of the tidal energy scheme can go ahead.
Welsh Environment Minister John Griffiths has welcomed the announcement as a vote of confidence in the region’s marine energy sector.
“The Welsh Government is strongly committed to unlocking the energy in our seas,” he said. “The energetic waters off Wales are ideally suited to the current stage of technology development and will play a vital role in the growth of the industry. This signal from the Crown Estate is a positive next step in helping us to realise this ambition.”
For further information:
www.wales.gov.uk
www.tidalenergyltd.com/
www.thecrownestate.co.uk/
Related stories:
UK government launches £20 million marine energy scheme (5-Apr)
UK wave and tidal energy “on cusp” of commercialisation, says report (16-Mar)
Tidal Energy’s Welsh project secures investment from Carbon Trust (11-Aug 2011)
Article source: http://www.energyefficiencynews.com/i/5071/
