Southampton-based consultancy MarineSpace has been appointed by Cornwall wave energy test site Wave Hub as project manager to develop new demonstration zones in North Devon and Pembrokeshire.
The Pembrokeshire Wave Demonstration Zone is located off the West Wales coast close to Pembroke Dock and covers an area of 90 square kilometres, while the North Devon Tidal Demonstration Zone is located in the Bristol Channel near Lynmouth and covers an area of 35 square kilometres.
Both sites have the potential to support the demonstration of arrays of devices with a generating capacity of up to 30MW for each project.
Wave Hub Limited, the site operator for the Wave Hub test sit, was awarded the seabed leases for the Pembrokeshire Wave Demonstration Zone and North Devon Tidal Demonstration Zone by the Crown Estate last year.
In their capacity as project manager for the zones, MarineSpace will enable the necessary feasibility, design and consents work to get underway; will look to assist WHL in securing funding for this activity; and will also help with stakeholder engagement.
WHL managing director Claire Gibson said: “We have been able to confirm the industry interest in both of these sites and local partners are now eager for us to move to the next phase.”
MarineSpace technical director Joseph Kidd, who will act as project manager based out of its Pembrokeshire office, added: “The demonstration zones could have an important role to play in helping marine energy take that big next step to commercial projects, and they could also represent a significant opportunity for the local economy and wider supply chains in each of the regions.”
Image: MarineSpace will develop wave demonstration zones in North Devon & Pembrokeshire (Sxc)
MarineSpace to ripen wave zones
Consultants to project manage North Devon, Pembrokeshire test sites
By EBS