With its extensive Atlantic coastline and powerful tides, the South West of England is a world centre for the development of wave and tidal energy. The UK government is investing some £19.5m in the region, approximately half of which is focused on Wave Hub at Hayle, on the North coast.
This unique project provides a large-scale facility for long-term testing of wave energy devices in Cornwall’s reliable ocean swell. It is an 8km2 site directly connected to a sub-station on-shore, so all energy generated is fed to the National Grid. The Hub will be divided into four different testing areas, each leased to a different developer for approximately five years. The aim is to evaluate the effectiveness and reliability of devices over a long term period, under different sea conditions.
The sub-station is also part of a new £12.8m marine energy business park (backed by £5m central government investment) which provides an ideal location for businesses interested in using the Wave Hub or working within the wave power sector.
Further support for the industry comes from the Peninsular Research Institute for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE), a joint initiative from the Universities of Exeter and Plymouth which brings together a unique team of international researchers in marine energy and offers world-class facilities for R&D. These include the South West Moorings Test Facility, a new research vessel and the forthcoming Wave Testing Tank, all of which are available for business use. PRIMaRE, which is funded by the South West RDA, also actively promotes knowledge transfer to industry through its specialist business consultants.
With such resources available, it’s no surprise that Cornwall is already home to a number of leading marine energy companies, many of which clustered around the deep natural harbour at Falmouth. These include Mojo Maritime, a specialist in marine construction and installation, whose Managing Director won the 2009 South West Sustainable Energy Champion Award.
Related Links
Find out more about the Wave Hub
See the facilities available at PRIMaRE
Find out about specific opportunities in the marine renewable energy industry in Cornwall - download our marine renewable energy brochure