A GBP28 million wave power project that is planned for the UK coast has received government planning approval. The so-called Wave Hub, a giant electrical socket on the seafloor, will allow wave power firms to connect to Britain's power grid and test new machines, Reuters has reported.
The Wave Hub will be situated 10 miles off St Ives, Cornwall. Clearing initial apprehensions that the project might damage the local beaches, the Wave Hub project has finally received its final approval to go ahead, the publication revealed.
Reuters quoted Wave Hub project manager, Nick Harrington, as saying: There’s now been three environmental surveys, so that’s drawn a line under it.
There’s great optimism at the moment, Mr Harrington added. Islands around the world, like Hawaii, are looking at the sea as an energy resource for the next generation.
Reuters said that the Wave Hub is expected to create sufficient electricity to power 7,500 homes, saving 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over 25 years. The publication also cited figures released by the Carbon Trust that outline the potential of wave and tidal power to provide 3% of Britain’s electricity by 2020.