The Crown Estate has announced plans to lease further wave and tidal sites in a bid to encourage and accelerate technology development.
In line with responses to its recent industry engagement exercise, the leasing will focus on test and demonstration projects to be installed in waters around the UK.
The further leasing adds to the numerous ways that the Crown Estate is supporting industry growth, including the recent announcement that it is considering investing up to £20 million in the UK’s first wave and tidal stream array projects.
The Crown Estate is enhancing its approach to leasing wave and tidal sites by introducing two new features.
Commenting on the announcement, Huub den Rooijen, Head of Offshore Wind said: “The emerging wave and tidal industry has already taken great strides, but we want to encourage faster progress in technology development and rapid cost reduction. By introducing managed demonstration zones we’re offering a key opportunity to other organisations to lend tangible support in their local areas.”
The new leasing is planned to commence in September 2013.
In the UK 41 wave and tidal sites have already been leased with a total potential installed capacity of approximately 2 GW. This is the largest development pipeline of wave and tidal projects in the world.
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Press release, May 22, 2013; Image: SgurrEnergy