Marine power has huge potential and the UK is already leading the way for the rest of the world to follow. Generating energy from the power of waves or tides could provide up to 20% of current UK electricity demand and also help cut carbon emissions and support thousands of UK jobs.
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “This scheme will help move marine power to the next stage of development, the demonstration of a number of wave and tidal devices in array formation out at sea. This will take us one vital step closer to realising our ambitions of generating electricity from the waves and tides, powering homes and businesses across the whole of the UK with clean, green electricity.”
The up to £20million MEAD scheme is part of a co-ordinated programme of innovation support for marine technology being delivered by the Low Carbon Innovation Co-ordination Group (LCICG).
Organisations can apply to the MEAD scheme online via the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) website. The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 1 June 2012. DECC will host an event on 2 May for anyone interested in applying and would encourage anyone planning to submit a bid to attend to learn more about the requirements of the scheme.
Bids will be judged by an assessment panel on a range of criteria including the ability to generate a minimum of 7GWh per year and the use of at least three generating devices, previously demonstrated at full scale in sea conditions.
Winning bids will be announced by the Government towards the end of the year and projects must be up and running by the end of March 2016.
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