Scottish tidal stream energy company Nova Innovation has announced it has had to pull out of one of its flagship Welsh tidal projects.
The Enlli (Bardsey Island) project in North Wales aimed to make the remote island the world’s first ‘blue energy island’ by generating power from the strong tidal currents running between Bardsey Island and the mainland on the Llŷn Peninsula.
In 2020 Nova Innovation secured funding from the Welsh Government to progress environmental consenting and the technical design of its Enlli tidal energy project.
The aim of this ground-breaking project was to install five 100kW turbines on the seabed of Bardsey Sound.
A spokesperson from Nova Innovation said: “Due to a range of site-specific factors, including revenue support limitations and grid and cable routing constraints, the project will be mothballed from March 2023.
“This has been a difficult decision, but the issues identified mean it is not currently economically viable to develop a project here.
“If the grid on the Llŷn peninsula is strengthened, the tidal project in Bardsey Sound would become viable and offer significant opportunities for local regeneration in the future.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have worked and partnered with us on the Enlli project for their interest, advice and feedback.”