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First commercial-scale tidal generator planned for March

19 February 2008

UK tidal energy firm Marine Current Turbines (MCT) is to install the world's first commercial-scale, grid-connected tidal energy generator at Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland late next month.

Martin Wright, MCT managing director, said the 1.2-megawatt SeaGen tidal system would be installed after Easter - weather permitting - and could generate enough electricity to power 1,000 homes.

"To get the system in the water will be a real boost to the industry as a whole," said a spokesman.

"There have been smaller devices deployed in the past, but they have been prototypes. This is the first grid connected device that will be to commercial scale - by that we mean the device going in the water next month is essentially the system we will be using in planned tidal farms."

The 14-day installation project for the Strangford Lough project is scheduled to begin on March 23rd.

MCT and energy giant npower last week unveiled a project to build a 10.5-megawatt tidal energy farm in an area off the coast of Anglesey.

MCT hopes the project in Northern Ireland could be in operation as early as 2011.

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