Edinburgh based Ocean Power Delivery (OPD) developed the Pelamis system over the last six years. Building on technology developed for the offshore industry, each Pelamis machine has a rated power output of 750kW, enough to meet the annual electricity needs of over 500 UK households.

This first Pelamis machine now being trialed at EMEC is a pre-production prototype.

Satisfactory testing of the machine is expected to lead to the first commercial orders being placed for multi-machine projects or 'wave farms' consisting of a number of machines interlinked and sharing a common subsea cable to shore. A 300MW wave farm would consist of 40 machines occupying approximately one square kilometre and providing sufficient electricity for over 20,000 households.

Since its launch earlier this year, the first Pelamis has undergone extensive sea trials to test and commission systems prior to installation at EMEC and connection to the grid. The prototype was towed into position by the anchor handling vessel Far Scout on 14 August and began sending power to the grid the next day.

There was further good news for marine renewable energy when UK front bench energy spokesmen from the three main political parties agreed recently that there could be no doubt of the importance of the role of renewable technologies in achieving security of energy supply and helping to address climate change. The parties also agreed that the Renewables Obligation will be maintained into the future as the delivery mechanism for increased generation from renewables. The consensus emerged from a debate chaired by Jonathan Dimbleby at the UK wind industry's 26th annual conference, held in Manchester.

Laurence Robertson, Shadow Minister for Energy, stressed the Conservative Party's support for the current legislation to increase the green share of the energy mix, saying that 'Under a Conservative government the Renewables Obligation would continue. Wind will play a significant role in our future energy supplies.'

Andrew Stunell, the Liberal Democrat Spokesman for Energy, said that his party is committed to renewables as a dominant provider in an energy efficient future portfolio. He agreed that political parties should have consensus on the overall direction of energy policy while ensuring a healthy debate on the means to get there.

The debate ended with Energy Minister Stephen Timms reaffirming the Government's position on renewables as outlined in the Energy White Paper. The Minister also emphasised that the Review of the Obligation scheduled for 2005/6 will not be a fundamental rethink of a critical policy. He said, 'We are not in the business of reopening or ripping up the very foundations of the renewables framework that we have put in place.'

The news was welcomed by both the renewables industry and the financial players keen to invest in a growth sector. It reduces political risk which could undermine the industry at a critical stage in its development.

Tony White, Head of Research at Climate Change Capital, added 'This is the most important policy statement I've heard this year.

It is something we've been after for 18 months.

MJ Information No: 19848