Wales government backs tidal energy scheme

Owned and managed by Ynys Môn social enterprise Menter Môn, the Morlais tidal scheme will be able to expand because of the extra cash, with plans in place for it to be operational by 2026.

Twenty HydroWing turbines by the firm Inyanga Marine Energy will generate 20MW of electricity in what is being called the largest consented tidal energy scheme in Europe, covering an area of 35km² of seabed. 

The HydroWings are now each being powered by two Tocardo T3 turbines, which are new.

Menter Môn says the scheme has the potential to deliver more than 10 times that because of its modular structure.

“Firstly, the modular substructure comes in road haulable sections, which can be rapidly assembled quayside for installation,” said Inyanga CEO Richard Parkinson. “The T3 turbines can also be easily transported and installed. Previously, turbines have been large and expensive, if not impossible to deliver to some of the remote locations in which we operate, whereas the compact T3 turbines can be delivered ‘in a box’.

“In fact, all the HydroWing components will fit in containers for easy, low-cost transport. Additionally, the well proven wet mate connection system from the transformer hub to the export cable allows for instantaneous ‘plug and play’ connection.

“The two micro-pile fixings on each foot of the substructure are lightweight and low cost, and can be installed by small workboats. We estimate that there is an up to 60% saving in fixation costs, increasing rapidly with scale. What’s more, the patented HydroWing Quad Barge also has a modular design, enabling operations and maintenance costs to be minimised too.

“As well as all these significant cost reduction elements, the HydroWing system includes many features to increase energy yield. For example, the patented T3 turbine blades (each 600KW with 14m rotor diameter) benefit from passive pitch and a gearbox, delivering optimal yield, whilst the 19 metre nacelle height places the turbine in optimal flow conditions for maximum yield as well.

“The winning combination means that energy yield is increased dramatically, up to 60%.”

“We want to make Wales a world centre for emerging tidal technologies and we’re off to a good start on several fronts,” said cabinet secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans. “Our investment will support Menter Môn Morlais to scale up capacity, and develop an industrial cluster for tidal energy and innovation in north Wales, whilst delivering jobs and growth through its pioneering technology, keeping the value local.”

In 2024, Inyanga won a contract to build southeast Asia’s first ever tidal power generation plant at Capul in the Philippines, as well as a binding agreement for plans for the first tidal current power plant in Indonesia.