Government has today launched its eagerly awaited £20 million Marine Energy Array Demonstrator scheme (MEAD). This scheme will support up to 2 pre-commercial projects to demonstrate the operation of wave and/or tidal devices in array formation over a period of time.
Organisations across the UK will be able to bid for a share of the £20million announced last summer helping spur on growth in this exciting new sector.
Marine power has huge potential and the UK is already leading the way for the rest of the world to follow. Generating energy from the power of waves or tides could provide up to 20% of current UK electricity demand and also help cut carbon emissions and support thousands of UK jobs.
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “This scheme will help move marine power to the next stage of development, the demonstration of a number of wave and tidal devices in array formation out at sea. This will take us one vital step closer to realising our ambitions of generating electricity from the waves and tides, powering homes and businesses across the whole of the UK with clean, green electricity.”
The up to £20million MEAD scheme is part of a co-ordinated programme of innovation support for marine technology being delivered by the Low Carbon Innovation Co-ordination Group (LCICG).
Winning bids will be announced by Government towards the end of the year.
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Offshore WIND staff, April 05, 2012; Image: atlantisresourcescorporation