Plans for a major tidal energy project between Bardsey Island and the Llyn Peninsula have been pulled with its backer blaming revenue support and National Grid connection issues for the decision.
Scottish tidal stream energy company, Nova Innovation, had planned to install five 100 kW ( 0.5 megatwatt) turbines on the seabed of Bardsey Sound. Its Enlli project will be mothballed from March.
In 2020 Nova Innovation secured £1.2m funding from the Welsh Government to progress environmental consenting and the technical design of the project. It is understood that not all the funding has been drawn down.
A spokesperson from Nova Innovation said:“Due to a range of site-specific factors, including revenue support limitations and grid and cable routing constraints, the project will be mothballed from March. This has been a difficult decision, but the issues identified mean it is not currently economically viable to develop a project here. If the grid on the Llyn peninsula is strengthened, the tidal project in Bardsey Sound would become viable and offer significant opportunities for local regeneration in the future. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have worked and partnered with us on the Enlli project for their interest, advice and feedback.”
While a cost of the project had not been provided, the environmental impact assessment showed the best approach would involve burying the device cables - adding considerable cost.
The work to date undertaken by Nova will be made publicly available by The Crown Estate for site development in the future - should the infrastructure be in place. Like Nova any new developer would be looking for subsidy support, via a contract for difference, from the UK Government.
The project had been supported by Marine Energy Wales which brings together all stakeholders in the Welsh sustainable marine energy generation sector.
Its programme manager, Tom Hill, said: “Our coastline’s natural resources – wind, waves and tides – have tremendous potential to produce cheap, clean energy and support thousands of new jobs in the renewables sector.
Tidal stream energy has come a long way in the past 10 years. The technology is proven, it is the challenge of commercialisation the industry now faces. The site-specific factors the Enlli project faced, are real barriers, and this is why we are campaigning for sector investment, timely consenting and grid upgrades, so that Wales can capitalise on its renewable energy resources.
“Nova Innovation has strong environmental credentials with 10 years of monitoring experience, and the Enlli project has delivered several benefits including site information and data; strong links built with the local community and collaborative working relationships with stakeholders. We hope it will become viable again in the future.”
A Welsh Government spokesperson said, “We are disappointed at the news that Nova will no longer take forward their plans to produce tidal energy on the Llyn Peninsula. We will continue to press UK government for additional funding for vital smaller marine renewable projects, like Enlli.
“Discussions are ongoing with the company to see how we can continue to work with them on other tidal projects across Wales.”
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