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22 MTR October 2010 news renewable energy ESB International (ESBI) entered an agreement with tidal energy com- pany Marine Current Turbines (MCT) to develop an initial phase of a 100MW tidal energy project off the Antrim coast in Northern Ireland. ESBI and MCT will work together to submit a proposal to the forthcoming Marine Leasing Round in Northern Ireland to secure an Agreement for Lease from The Crown Estate to commence formal consenting of the project. If successful, and subject to the achievement of consent, the ini- tial phase of the project, which will use the MCT SeaGen device, could be in operation by 2018. The ESBI/MCT project will assist Northern Ireland in achieving its marine renewable energy targets as outlined in the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade & Investment’s Strategic Action Plan which calls for 300MW of tidal ener- gy by 2020. SeaGen is reportedly the largest and most powerful tidal stream turbine in the world and the only one that is regularly generating electrcitiy for customers, having been accredited by OFGEM, the UK industry regulator, as an “official” power station. The 1.2MW turbine has been operating in Northern Ireland’s Strangford Lough since April 2008 and recently achieved another operational milestone by delivering its 2 millionth kWh of power to the grid. Thanks to Strangford being an exceptionally energetic location, SeaGen regularly produces as much electricity as an average off-shore wind turbine of double the rated power. This power is already being sold by ESB’s retail electricity supply busi- ness, ESB Independent Energy, to customers in Northern Ireland. ESB Chief Executive, Padraig McManus, said ESB's strategy to 2020 involves focusing on sustainable and renew- able energies. "We look forward to working with MCT on this exciting new project. Our aim is to use our experience and technical strength to support the development of a viable ocean energy industry in Ireland and this project is an important step in realising that goal", he said. Martin Wright, Managing Director of Marine Current Turbines said "This agreement underlines the suc- cess to date of the SeaGen project in Strangford Lough but importantly the real and growing commercial interest in tidal energy. Our agreement with ESBI, which has been a valued shareholder in MCT for 2½ years, confirms MCT's tidal technology at being in the fore- front in the race to harness the power of tides. We are pleased that ESBI has cho- sen MCT to develop the initial phase of this project." Tidal Energy MCT, EXBI Enter Project Raised for maintenance.
