MeyGen and Sea Generation Wales were awarded the funds under the government’s Marine Energy Array Demonstrator scheme (MEAD) to advance the growth of the marine energy industry in UK.
The MEAD scheme provides investment for testing marine devices that could drive commercialization of the marine sector.
SeaGeneration will test SeaGen-S 2MW turbines developed by Marine Current Turbines at Anglesey, Wales, whereas MeyGen will work with Andritz Hydro Hammerfest 1.4MW turbines at Pentland Firth Inner Sound, Scotland.
The projects are scheduled to commence operations in March 2016.
Energy and Climate Change minister Greg Barker noted, "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."
Marine energy is estimated to provide for nearly 20% of the current UK electricity demand by 2050 and add to the cutting down of carbon emissions.
