Natural Resources Wales has given consent to the Holyhead Deep marine energy project west of Anglesey.
Tidal energy developer Minesto, a spin-off from Swedish aerospace manufacturer Saab, has received consent for a 0.5 MW ‘deep green’ device, to demonstrate and prove the technology ahead of plans for installing a 10 MW array at the site. It would be the first low-velocity tidal energy project in the world.
Ylva Sörqvist Hultgren, site development manager at Minesto, said: ‘This first step of implementing our unique technology in commercial scale is obviously an important one, and it is therefore satisfying to have reached this milestone.’
The environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the project was carried out by consultancy Xodus. The EIA considered the potential impacts on fisheries, marine mammals, sea birds, marine archaeology and cultural heritage as well as shipping and navigation. It concluded that these were ‘not significant’.