Government has today launched its £20 million Marine Energy Array Demonstrator scheme (MEAD). The scheme will be able to support up to two pre-commercial projects to demonstrate wave or tidal devices. Organisations across the UK will be able to bid for a share of £20million until June 1st 2012.
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 MEAD scheme is part of a wider programme of support for marine technology being delivered by the Low Carbon Innovation Co-ordination Group (LCICG). Winning bids will be announced by the Government towards the end of the year.
DECC claims 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.
