Marine Energy Wales has submitted scoping to Natural Resources Wales for the development of the Marine Energy Test Area project in and around the Milford Haven Waterway in Pembrokeshire.
The £1.9m META will see the creation of a series of pre-consented, non-grid connected areas suitable for a range of component, sub-assembly and marine energy device tests.
The scoping opinion request will determine which key issues an environmental impact assessment should address and what environmental surveys need to be undertaken to enable operations and deployment of full-scale devices in 2020.
The scoping report represents the next significant step in bringing META to reality after site selection and feasibility studies began in 2017.
Marine Energy Wales is aiming for META to be open for business early next year with specified activities accommodated in association with the Port of Milford Haven.
META operations manager Joseph Kidd said: “META will fill the gap for early stage marine energy testing in the UK and combined with the £76m Pembroke Dock Marine Project, will place Pembrokeshire and Wales on the main stage for this emerging global market.”