Marine generation project Wave Hub, to be located off the UK's southwest coast, has received a UK£4.5M (US$8.5M) funding boost from the country's Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) Marine Renewables Deployment Fund.
If consented, the Wave Hub scheme, which has been spearheaded by the South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA), will act as a giant extension cable connecting up to four wave energy devices to the national grid.
The UK government has pledged that if the green light is given to the project it will provide the RDA with almost a quarter of the estimated UK£20M (US$37.8M) it will cost to get the Hub into the water and connected to the mainland via an underwater cable that will come ashore at Hayle, Cornwall.
Minister for Energy Malcolm Wicks said that the Wave Hub, if successful, could provide 3% of Cornwall’s electricity needs – 20MW of energy to power 7500 homes.
The government’s consultation on the Wave Hub consent application with the relevant stakeholders is due to close on 1 September and a decision is expected by the end of the year
Related ArticlesUK Govt approves Wave Hub project