Will Britannia rule the way in wave and tidal energy?

BWEA, which champions the UK wind, wave and tidal sectors, today warmly welcomed the Government's proposals to actively support wave and tidal energy. The announcement sets out for comment the mechanisms to distribute £42 million of support from the £50 million released by Secretary of State Patricia Hewitt in early August last year. By proposing a combination of revenue based support equivalent to 15 pence per kilowatt hour (kWh) and 25% capital grants, this announcement will provide these emerging carbon-free power sources with the significant boost over the next few years that they have been looking for. The announcement is now out for consultation amongst the industry until the 25th February.

The proposals put out today by the Government were drawn heavily from the recommendations made in BWEA's report undertaken last year by Climate Change Capital, entitled 'Into the Blue'. Michael Hay, Marine Renewables Development Manager at BWEA, commented:

“Well done to Government. This is great news for the emerging wave and tidal sector. They have listened to the industry and put in place proposals for a world leading support fund to kick-start these essential carbon-free power sources. The challenge now is to get the first projects consented and in the water as soon as is practically possible.

While this fund is a great step forward for devices in more advanced stages of development, government must ensure this marine fund has life beyond the current three year term to provide equal re-assurance to the many projects at earlier stages of development.”