The UK government is offering today $31.6 million (£20 million) in a competition to spur wave energy technologies.
Its goal is to support two pre-commercial projects that demonstrate the operation of wave and/or tidal devices in array formation for an extended period of time.
By supporting the sector as it moves from single device prototypes to the first arrays of full-scale devices, the program will build confidence in the technology as a viable option to produce bulk electricity and in its potential contribution to the long-term deployment of renewable energy.
Applicants need to show they can generate a minimum 7 GWh per year and use at least three generating devices (3 MW capacity), previously demonstrated at full scale in sea conditions.
Larger arrays of 10 GWh or more will be assessed more favourably. Projects must run for at least two years and be up and running by the end of March 2016.
The technology must have been previously demonstrated at full-scale in real-sea conditions similar to the project site, which must be in UK territorial waters and supply electricity to the UK grid.
The funding comes from a £200 million government low carbon technology development fund.
A pre-submission briefing will be held in London on May 2, and the deadline is June 1.
Here's the website:
