DTI Press Release P/2002/015

10 January 2002

WILSON GIVES BOOST TO WAVE POWER

Energy Minister Brian Wilson today announced plans for a cluster of
wave power stations in the Western Isles which are expected to lead
to the creation of manufacturing jobs within the islands.

Speaking in the House of Commons, he said: "This is an exciting
development which will greatly advance the development of shore-based
wave technology. I am delighted that the developers, Wavegen, intend
to locate the manufacturing process locally."

Mr Wilson said:

"I am pleased to announce that one of the UK's major electricity
companies, Scottish and Southern PLC are working with Wavegen to
develop a proposal for a cluster of offshore based wave power
stations in the Western Isles. The intention is thst these will be
technically innovative and will act both as demonstration plants and
also as commercial generators to supply Scottish and Southern

"Wavegen are currently undertaking surveys in the Western Isles to
establish suitable sites for these developments and are working up
outline project proposals.

"It is their hope and intention that a key feature of these plans
will be the use of the former Arnish fabrication yard for
manufacturing. Wavegen are now in touch with the owners of Arnish,
the Stornoway Trust. The use of Arnish for this purpose is entirely
comptibl with the intention of Amec and British Energy to use the
yard for manufacturing purposes related to their proposed wiondfarm
on Lewis."

"My Department is, in principle extremely supportive of this proposal
for the further development of shoreline and near-shore-based wave
power and I expect that we will be asked by Wavegen to consider their
proposals at some point within the next three months.

"I know that these comments will be particularly welcomed by Hon
Friend, the Member for the Western Isles whose commitment to the
development of renewable energy is well established, and also by the
Western Council whose intiative in creating an Energy Innovation zone
has helped to stimulate all of this activity."

Islay has the only commercial wave power station in the world, with a
capacity of 500 kilowatts. This was developed and installed by an
Inverness based company, Wavegen. We have announced support for the
development by the same company of an offshore device, which is
likely to be tested in Orkney. Momentum will also be maintained on
the shoreline and near shore systems and to encourage the refinement
of that technology.

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