The expansion of marine renewable energy will be furthered by the British Government's announcement late last month which sets out for comment the mechanisms to distribute £42m of support for the UK wave and tidal energy sectors from the £50m Marine Research Deployment Fund announced last August.

By proposing a combination of revenue based support equivalent to 15 pence per kilowatt hour and 25% capital grants, the announcement will provide these emerging carbon-free power sources with a substantial boost over the next three years. With the announcement out for consultation amongst the industry until the end of this month, the challenge is to get the first wave and tidal sector projects in the water as soon as is practically possible.

Making the announcement, UK Energy Minister Mike O'Brien said, 'The marine renewables sector is at a critical point in its development from pipe dream, through R&D, to commercial viability. The UK is already by far the most attractive place to develop these emerging technologies. This new £42 million scheme marks a watershed. It will kick start construction of large scale demonstration farms and will for the first time see wave and tidal power feeding into the national grid.'

MJ Information No: 20332