Orbital Marine Power has signed a berth agreement with the developer of the Morlais Tidal Energy Project test site off Anglesey in north Wales.
The deal with Menter Mon could result in the Scottish outfit deploying a commercial-scale tidal array of its O2 2MW floating turbines in the 2020s.
Orbital chief executive Andrew Scott (pictured, middle) said the Morlais project gives the Orkney company a “line of sight” to a commercial and scalable tidal array in UK waters.
“The concentration of tidal energy off the coast here, supported by great infrastructure in north Wales, makes this an ideal location to build out a new marine industry that can create new demand for skills and services both locally and further afield,” he added.
The Morlais project has secured a grid connection offer and, following completion of environmental assessments, a consent application is due to be submitted in mid-2019.
Morlais director Gerallt Llywelyn Jones (pictured, left) said the arrangement with Orbital would result in a boost to the local north Wales economy.
“Orbital’s floating tidal technology is designed around the use of locally based workboat vessels and service teams for all installation and maintenance requirements and we therefore believe they will be a great fit towards meeting our objectives,” he added.
Welsh AM for Anglesey Rhun ap Iorwerth is also seen with Jones and Scott.