One step closer to building the world’s first multi-technology tidal array demonstration facility

Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre (PTEC) has applied for permission to construct and operate a tidal energy demonstration site off St Catherine's Point to the south of the Isle of Wight.

If consents are granted, PTEC could start construction in late 2016 and become world's first multi-technology tidal array demonstration facility.

In lead of PTEC's consenting work, Dutch consultancy firm Royal HaskoningDHV did the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and the front end engineering design (FEED) for the facility's offshore and onshore works.

Engagement with regulators and local community
PTEC intends to generate over 50,000 MWh of clean, renewable electricity, per year, from tides in the sea south of the Isle of Wight.

Over the last year and a half, Royal HaskoningDHV’s PTEC project team has drawn on the support of a much wider team of technical experts with RHDHV, with up to 40 staff being involved in making this project a success.

Frank Fortune, technical director for wave and tidal energy at Royal HaskoningDHV, said: "Our track-record of success in consenting wave and tidal energy projects made RHDHV an obvious choice to undertake the consent applications for PTEC.

Engagement with stakeholders
Fortune: "We have undertaken a comprehensive programme of engagement with regulators, the local community and other stakeholders, and will continue to work closely with them as the project progresses. We’re proud to have been involved in this ground-breaking project, for the UK and the Isle of Wight. PTEC will reinforce the UK’s reputation as world-leaders in the wave and tidal industry. We look forward to continuing to support PTEC over the coming months and years."

Different technologies deployed in groups or arrays
The tidal technologies to be deployed at PTEC will be positioned in groups or arrays within an area of 5 km2. Export cables on the seabed will bring the electricity from the site to an onshore substation.

According to PTEC its consenting works were led by Royal HaskoningDHV due to their track-record of successful EIAs, and their reputation for consent delivery for projects in the marine environment.

This news item was originally published on the website of Royal HaskoningDHV/UK.

More information
Royal HaskoningDHV
Edinburgh, UK
+44 131 561 22 95 
www.royalhaskoningdhv.com

Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre
London, UK
www.perpetuustidal.com

BBC South Today covered a story on the Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre (PTEC) and the proposed plans,