The Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) has today launched its eagerly awaited £20 million Marine Energy Array Demonstrator scheme (MEAD).
The scheme will support up to 2 pre-commercial projects to demonstrate the operation of wave and/or tidal devices in array formation over a period of time. Organisations across the UK will be able to bid for a share of the £20million announced last summer helping spur on growth in the sector.
Bids for the scheme will be judged by an assessment panel on criteria including the ability to generate a minimum of 7GWh per year and the use of at least three generating devices, previously demonstrated at full scale in sea conditions. Projects must be up and running by March 2016.
DECC estimates that generating energy from the power of waves or tides could provide up to 20% of current UK electricity demand as well as helping cut carbon emissions and supporting thousands of UK jobs.
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said:
“This scheme will help move marine power to the next stage of development, the demonstration of a number of wave and tidal devices in array formation out at sea. This will take us one vital step closer to realising our ambitions of generating electricity from the waves and tides, powering homes and businesses across the whole of the UK with clean, green electricity.”
The funding was welcomed by the UK's professional body for the renewable wind and marine industry, RenewableUK. David Krohn, the organisation's wave and tidal development manager, said:
"The marine energy industry has the potential to allow us to generate clean electricity using the inexhaustible power of the sea. The Mead scheme will help kickstart the industry."
Yet Krohn claimed more money would still be needed if marine technology was to reach its full potential.
"Our research shows that £120m of capital support is required to overcome barriers to commercial development and unlock our share of this global industry," he said. "It is important to recognise that this is only the beginning of the road to building marine energy into a fully commercial industry."
The up to £20million MEAD scheme is part of a co-ordinated programme of innovation support for marine technology being delivered by the Low Carbon Innovation Co-ordination Group (LCICG).
Winning bids will be announced by Government towards the end of the year.
Organisations can apply to the MEAD scheme via the DECC website. The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 1 June 2012. DECC is hosting an event on 2 May for anyone interested in applying.
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