British firms MeyGen, SeaGeneration win £20m to test marine energy arrays

Two British companies, MeyGen and SeaGeneration Wales have won a total funding of $20m from the government to advance technologies that drive growth in the marine energy industry.

The companies emerged as winners under the UK government’s Marine Energy Array Demonstrator (MEAD) scheme.

MeyGen is working with Andritz Hydro Hammerfest 1.4MW turbines at Pentland Firth Inner Sound, Scotland, while SeaGeneration is working with SeaGen-S 2MW turbines, developed by Marine Current Turbines, at Anglesey testing location in Wales.

Both the projects are expected to begin operations by the end of March 2016.

Announced in 2012, the scheme has been designed to provide investment for testing and subsequent commercialisation of marine devices, which could tap into the significant marine potential as a source of renewable power.

Marine energy is projected to contribute towards nearly 20% of the current UK electricity demand by 2050, besides helping to reduce carbon emissions.

Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said the £20m grant will give MeyGen and SeaGeneration Wales the boost they need to leap to the next level and test their turbines in formations out at sea.

"These projects will provide valuable insight into how best to harness the power of the sea and take us one vital step closer to realising the full potential of marine in our future energy mix", Barket added.

MeyGen CEO Dan Pearson noted that the grant signifies the considerable support for the company’s project and will be used across all construction aspects of delivering the demonstration phase.

Siemens Energy hydro & ocean unit CEO Achim Wörner said that they are pleased that the Skerries project, being developed by SeaGeneration Wales, has been selected for the £10m Marine Energy Array Demonstration award.

The Skerries project in Anglesey will be one of the first arrays deployed using the Siemens owned Marine Current Turbines SeaGen S tidal turbines.

The marine consent for the project was recently awarded, the first tidal array to be consented in Wales.