Following a recent industry-engagement exercise, the Crown Estate is to lease more of its sites in UK waters around the British coastline to wave and tidal projects in order to encourage and accelerate technology development. The sites will be made available for test and demonstration projects and the arrangement adds to the way in which the Crown Estate is supporting growth in the wave and tidal sector, including a possible investment of up to £20 million for the UK’s first wave and tidal stream array projects.
Demonstration zones will help the industry focus on the best seabed locations by defining areas that offer appropriate wave and tidal energy resources and access to necessary infrastructure including ports and the National Grid. Third party management of these zones will be introduced once they have been defined. Selected organisations will be invited by the Crown Estate to manage and sublet areas within the zones for test and demonstration activities. These organisations may be selected from either the public or private sector but the selection criteria will include a requirement for interested parties to demonstrate a strong understanding of local interests.
“The emerging wave and tidal industry has already taken great strides, but we want to encourage faster progress in technology development and rapid cost reduction” said Huub den Rooijen, Head of Offshore Wind. “By introducing managed demonstration zones we're offering a key opportunity to other organisations to lend tangible support in their local areas.”
The new leasing arrangements are expected to commence in September 2013. Around 41 wave and tidal sites have already been leased around UK shores with a total installed capacity of around 2GW.
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