By Renewable Energy Focus staff

The tidal power test project at Ramsey Sound off Pembrokeshire in West Wales coast has received consents from the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Welsh Assembly Government.

The project for the DeltaStream tidal power device has received more than £500,000 from the European Regional Development Fund.

Welsh Environment Minister, Jane Davidson, says: “Our energy policy statement, A Low Carbon Revolution, outlines that Wales has the potential to produce nearly twice the amount of electricity it currently uses, through wholly renewable sources by 2025.

"Developing and investing in renewable technologies such as DeltaStream is vital if we are to meet our energy targets and drive forward Wales’ ambitions to become a more sustainable nation.”

She adds: “This project shows our commitment to getting pre-commercial devices into the water, so that their performance can be monitored. This will help to move the industry along and support the development of much needed field data.”

Pre-commercial tidal array in 2014

Martin Murphy, Managing Director of Tidal Energy Ltd, says: “We have taken a great stride forward today, which will enable us to deploy our first full-scale DeltaStream device in Ramsey Sound, Pembrokeshire in early 2012.”

He adds: “Following a successful 12 month technical and environmental test of the device, we will look to develop a pre-commercial array in 2014. This is the first consented tidal stream project in Welsh waters and we are honoured to be at the forefront of the tidal energy industry in Wales.”