Cash from the so-called Marine Energy Array Demonstrator scheme (MEAD) will be available for companies who can deploy at least three generating devices, which have been previously demonstrated at full scale in sea conditions Bids will be judged by an assessment panel on a range of criteria including the ability to generate a minimum of 7GWh per year. Decc said the winning bids would be announced towards the end of this year, and the projects involved must be up and running by the end of March 2016.
Organisations can apply to the MEAD scheme online via the Decc website. The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 1 June.
Energy and 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.”
Decc is planning an event on 2 May for companies interested in applying for the funding.
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