The SeaGen project, which has received a £4.27m grant from the UK Government's Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) technology programme, will be installed and connected to the National Grid later this year.

It has the capacity to generate clean and sustainable energy for some 600 homes.

Martin Wright, managing director of MCT said, 'This is a tremendous step forward for tidal energy technology. Given the support of the DTI and Northern Ireland ministers for the SeaGen project, we now have a unique opportunity to comprehensively assess the environmental impact of our technology as well as showcase the commercial potential of tidal stream energy.

'We are confident that Sea Gen will not only prove to be genuinely low in impact and sustainable, but will show that tidal energy can become a commercial reality and will be able to contribute to the UK energy requirements sooner than expected. The great advantage with tidal power is its predictability, certainty of 'fuel' supply, and zero carbon emissions.'

Commenting on the consent, UK Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks said, 'Last month my department published the consent process that is required to get marine renewable energy prototypes in English and Welsh waters, as well s highlighting the £50m package of financial support that is available from the deployment fund. Projects like SeaGen are exactly the type of scheme we have to replicate in order to develop a world class UK industry.'

MCT and consultants Royal Haskoning carried out a comprehensive and exacting environmental assessment for the SeaGen installation at Strangford Lough, which has one of the strongest tidal currents in the UK and Ireland.

Meanwhile, MCT has also initiated the feasibility study which could lead to a 10MW tidal farm, to be known as the Lynmouth SeaGen Array, being built 2 km northwest of Lynmouth off Foreland Point. The farm would be connected to the National Grid and would have the capacity to supply 5,500 homes in the area.

Working with environmental project development consultancy PMSS Ltd, MCT expects to complete initial consultations with stakeholders by next month and to start the detailed EIA, both offshore and onshore, thereafter. It is expected the EIA could take up to ten months to complete whilst consultation with interested parties is ongoing.

Once the EIA has been completed, MCT will determine whether the waters off Lynmouth are a suitable location for the 12 unit array and whether the necessary consents should be sought.

MJ Information No: 21511