PLANS to build Wales’ first ever tidal farm off the coast of Anglesey have taken a step closer to becoming reality.
The Crown Estate has granted an agreement for lease for the £70 million Skerries Tidal Stream Array, which will include up to nine turbines between the Skerries and Carmel Head.
Marine Technologies manager Paul Catterall, of RWE npower renewables, who are undertaking the project with Marine Current Turbines (MCT), welcomed the agreement.
"We're delighted that Marine Current Turbines has been able to take this crucial step towards bringing tidal energy technology closer to operation in Wales.,” he said.
The proposed tidal farm would consist of up to nine turbines, which could generate enough power to supply electricity to up to 10,000 homes.
The lease, a necessary pre-condition for any offshore sea-bed installation in UK waters, once the required environmental consents for the project have been granted by the Welsh Government.
The Welsh Government is expected to give its decision within the next few months.
MCT is now ramping up its efforts to raise the finance to build the tidal array, according to chief executive Dr Andrew Tyler.
“A critical element remains the financing of the Skerries project but I am confident that investment will be forthcoming given the valuable support to date by RWE, and the strong interest in marine energy being shown by other utilities and energy companies, he said.
Dr Taylor believed that the project’s chances could be helped by the UK Government’s declared ambition to harness the energy of coastal waters.
Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones said that the Welsh Government was working with the Crown Estate to take the industry forward.
“As one of the most advanced UK tidal projects, already the subject of an environmental impact assessment and in the consents process, Marine Current Turbines’ Skerries project near Anglesey is an outstanding example of the future potential for marine energy development off the Welsh coast,” he said.