Public planning inquiry into Anglesey's £35m tidal energy scheme

Expected to create over 100 jobs within a decade, the £35m Morlais scheme would see a development covering up to 35 sq km of seabed to generate as much as 240MW of electricity (180,000 households) via the power of the tides in the Irish Sea.

Menter Môn, who are behind the project, secured permission from the Crown Estate to establish the “demonstration zone” while inviting bids from developers for a commercial lease.

But before any work can take place, December 1 will see the start of a public inquiry as government-appointed inspectors consider hundreds of pages of written submissions as well as verbal evidence both for and against as part of the Transport and Works Act Application.

Assessments suggest that the project would create 100 jobs within the first decade, without taking into account the wider supply chain, while also creating training and apprenticeship opportunities.

In the Commons this week, island MP Virginia Crosbie praised “innovative” schemes such as Morlais as a vital “part of the jigsaw” in helping to deliver a net zero carbon future under the ‘energy island’ umbrella.

But despite the potential economic benefits the plan has also attracted some opposition, with agencies including the RSPB holding “grave concerns” that the project could have a “devastating impact” on seabird populations.

The Anglesey-based social enterprise behind Morlais stresses that any development would take place on a phased basis, but acknowledging that there could be potential effects” they say that additional tidal devices will only be installed when its clear that sea birds and marine mammals are safe from harm.

In its submission, Anglesey Council has offered principled backing to the project and has welcomed the economic benefits, but also urged developers to offer assurances by way of tourism, skills and supply chain strategies before construction work can start.

Other agencies have offered more robust opposition, however, with the specially set-up South Stack Heritage Group calling into question the “unproven” technology and that it would “industrialise” an area of natural beauty that attracts up to 250,000 tourists a year.

The group’s website noted that construction would also mean severe disruption for the local road network.

“We believe that marine renewable energy generation can be compatible with an healthy natural environment but that this should not be at the expense of our most important heritage & wildlife sites and species,” they said in a statement.

“One of our significant concerns with the Morlais Project is that by it’s very definition, it is a ‘demonstration zone’ where developers can install untested tidal energy devices, making their capability to generate sustainable levels of electricity unknown.

“What is known is that these devices are NOT compatible with the natural indigenous environment, species and habitats and are diametrically opposed to the preservation of this area of outstanding natural beauty.”

The RSPB has also raised recently highlighted concerns in regards to taking “unmanageable risks” with the fragile marine environment.

The charity, which manages the nearby South Stack nature reserve, clams that 60% of guillemots and 97% of razorbills could be lost from adjacent cliffs due to diving birds being theoretically in danger of colliding with underwater turbines.

RSPB director Katie-jo Luxton, said: “If this project is serious about being a test bed for new marine energy generation technologies in an environmentally sensitive way, it must proceed in a step-wise manner, learning from each stage.

“However, our faith in this approach is jeopardised by Menter Môn seeking blanket, large scale consents.

“A smaller scale permission would reduce the risks of environmental damage. It would also maximise our learning about new technologies in this highly environmentally sensitive location.”

But stressing their local credentials, Morlais Director Gerallt Llewellyn Jones said that they had no intention of developing a project that would have an unacceptable negative impact on the area.

“I was brought up in the area and the last thing we want to do is to cause harm,” he said.

“The ethos and vision of Menter Môn is to promote and encourage local communities so anything that would destroy that would be completely against what we stand for.

“Morlais will be developed in phases and not all in one go, it will initially be very small and will only grow when it can be demonstrated that there is no major impact to wildlife and habitats.

“The current expectation is that tidal devices will occupy less than 20% of the whole area in the first 10-15 years, but even after this there will still be firm restrictions on when and where devices can be placed.”

Responding to concerns over the size of the floating ‘barges’ – up to 75m in length and 3.5m tall, with some on the surface and others anchored to the sea bed –  Menter Môn stress that a maximum of 15 will be of this size with the closest being 1km away from the shore.

The electricity will then be transferred to an on-shore substation via up to nine sub-sea cables and then on to the National Grid.

He concluded, “It needs to be stressed that as Menter Môn is a social enterprise, any surplus generated will be reinvested into the local area.

“Bodies such as the RSPB are doing well out of tourism but you can’t eat the landscape, local people need jobs.

“The role of the planning process will be to take everything into account in a balanced fashion, but as we face environmental challenges and a global energy crisis, we have an opportunity to contribute something positively and to make a real difference here.”

The inquiry itself – necessary as the project is considered a development of national significance – is set to cover three weeks with a decision expected by the middle of 2021, while any green lighting of a separate maritime license is earmarked for August of next year.