Morlais
CountryWales
LocationHoly Island, Angelsey
Coordinates53°18′23″N 4°43′00″W / 53.30639°N 4.71667°W / 53.30639; -4.71667
StatusUnder construction
Construction began2022
Owner(s)Mentor Môn
Operator(s)Mentor Môn
Tidal power station
TypeTidal stream generator
CrossesIrish Sea
Power generation
Units operationalNone at present
Nameplate capacity240 MW (potential)
External links
Websitehttps://www.morlaisenergy.com

Morlais is a grid connected tidal stream energy project located in the Irish Sea just off the west coast of Holy Island, Anglesey, Wales. It is being developed by the social enterprise agency Menter Môn. The site has the potential for up to 240 MW of renewable energy to be harnessed from the tides, using a mixture of seabed mounted and floating tidal energy devices from different companies.

The 35 km2 (14 sq mi) site was designated for tidal energy by The Crown Estate in 2010, as the West Anglesey Demonstration Zone, and has been leased for 45 years.[1][2][3] Consent for the scheme was obtained in December 2021 from Natural Resources Wales. The scheme was awarded £31m from the European Regional Development Fund in March 2022, possibly the last significant project from this fund.[4] Following this, construction started in 2022, with phased installation so that any environmental impacts could be understood.[5]

The first devices to harvest power from the tides are expected to be installed in 2026. Before then, preparatory works including the grid connection are being constructed. Mark Drakeford officially opened the onshore substation in October 2023,[6] noting that "Morlais is a groundbreaking project and a key part of our transition to a low carbon economy".[7]

RSPB Cymru expressed concerns about the scheme's potential impacts on wildlife, including guillemots and razorbills.[8] An environmental impact assessment was completed, with detailed independent studies on various aspects of the project construction, operation, and decommissioning.[9] Environmental surveys are still ongoing, with a monitoring buoy equipped with cameras and other sensors was deployed in July 2023,[10] as part of the Marine Characterisation Research Project.[11]

Site description and environmental conditions

The project, as set out in the Environmental Statement[12] will comprise the following elements:

  • Navigation and environmental monitoring equipment
  • Tidal devices with associated moorings and foundations
  • Array cables and other offshore electrical infrastructure
  • Up to nine export cables with associated cable landfall
  • Onshore landfall substation at Ty-Mawr
  • Switchgear building at Parc Cybi
  • Grid connection substation at Orthios Eco-Park, southeast of Holyhead, where it connects to the 132 kV National Grid.
  • Cable corridor between the landfall substation via the switchgear building to the grid connection substation.

The onshore grid connection work was completed by civil engineering firm Jones Bros in June 2023, three months ahead of schedule.[13]

The tidal site covers an area of approximately 35 km2, situated between approximately 0.5 km and 6 km offshore. The water depth across the site is around 40 m on average, reaching 72 m LAT to the northwest of the site.[12] The site can be classified as an isolated/quiet environment, with a mixture of soft and hard bottom.[9]

Modelling of the area around the site shows mean depth-averaged velocities of 1.7 m/s (3.3 knots) and peaks of 3.7 m/s (7.2 knots). Across most of the site, ebb and flood tides are misaligned by 0° to 15°, which may have a small impact on turbine performance.[14]

Planned devices and developers

The site is split into multiple berths. Several developers have announced plans to deploy devices and have been awarded Contracts for difference (CfD) in Allocation Rounds AR4 and AR5 to supply power to the GB grid at a guaranteed price.[15][16]

Hydrowing

Hydrowing plan to deploy an initial phase of around 10 MW, using the next-generation Tocardo T3 turbines, mounted on a multi-rotor frame that has a wing-like structure. The first phase is for 14 units each with two turbines rated at 340 kW, a total of 9.52 MW.[17][18] Hydrowing Tidal Projects Ltd. was awarded a CfD for 10 MW in the CfD AR5 in September 2023.[19][20]

Magallanes Renovables

Spanish developer Magallanes Renovables secured CfDs in both AR4 and AR5, for 1.5 MW and 3 MW respectively.[21][19] They plan to deploy their next-generation floating ATIR devices at berth GR3.

Môr Energy

The Welsh subsidiary of QED-Naval, was awarded a CfD for 4.5 MW in the CfD AR5 in September 2023.[19] They plan to deploy at berth GO3.[22]

Verdant Isles

A joint venture between Verdant Power and Duggan Energy, Verdant Isles plan to deploy an initial phase one of 4.9 MW by 2027/28 at berth BL3.[23] Verdant Isles was awarded a CfD for 4.9 MW in CfD AR5 in September 2023.[19] The Verdant Power device is a three-bladed horizontal axis tidal turbine that sits on a triangular frame on the seabed, previously tested in New York’s East River.[24]

Other potential devices and developers

Several other developers have announced tentative plans to deploy at Morlais, however these have more uncertainty.

Nova Innovation and Sabella

Joint plans were announced in January 2022 by Edinburgh-based Nova Innovation and Quimper-based Sabella to each develop 6 MW of a 12 MW berth at Morlais.[25] The first deployments were initially stated for 2023/24, but there have been no further announcements on this.

Orbital Marine Power

Orbital announced in 2018 that they planned to deploy their floating 2 MW Orbital O2 turbines at Morlais.[26] However, there has been no news on this project since.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Morlais story | Morlais". www.morlaisenergy.com. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  2. ↑ IEA-OES (2023). Annual Report: An Overview of Ocean Energy Activities in 2022 (Report). International Energy Agency.
  3. ↑ Vogel, C. R.; Taira, D. T.; Carmo, B. S.; Assi, G. R. S.; Willden, R. H. J.; Meneghini, J. R. (2019-11-01). "Prospects for Tidal Stream Energy in the UK and South America: A Review of Challenges and Opportunities". Polytechnica. 2 (1): 97–109. doi:10.1007/s41050-019-00017-y. ISSN 2520-8063. S2CID 256464354.
  4. ↑ "Morlais tidal project on Anglesey gets £31m EU funding". BBC News. 2022-03-22. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  5. ↑ Ungoed-Thomas, Jon (2022-04-24). "Could Anglesey's tidal energy project drive a new energy revolution?". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  6. ↑ "Energy site official opening | Morlais". www.morlaisenergy.com. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  7. ↑ "Official opening of Wales' first tidal stream energy site on Anglesey". North Wales Chronicle. 2023-10-20. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  8. ↑ "Power project could be 'devastating' for island seabirds". BBC News. 2020-08-11. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  9. 1 2 "Morlais Tidal Demonstration Zone | Tethys". tethys.pnnl.gov. 2023-11-20. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  10. ↑ "Morlais tidal energy: 'World-leading' buoy protects wildlife". BBC News. 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  11. ↑ "Marine Characterisation Research Project". Menter Môn. 2022-09-05. Retrieved 2023-12-01.
  12. 1 2 Menter Môn Morlais Limited (July 2019). Morlais ES Non-Technical Summary (PDF) (Report) – via PNNL Tethys.
  13. ↑ "Jones Bros completes onshore works for Morlais". reNEWS.biz. 23 June 2023.
  14. ↑ Piano, M.; Neill, S. P.; Lewis, M. J.; Robins, P. E.; Hashemi, M. R.; Davies, A. G.; Ward, S. L.; Roberts, M. J. (2017-12-01). "Tidal stream resource assessment uncertainty due to flow asymmetry and turbine yaw misalignment". Renewable Energy. 114: 1363–1375. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2017.05.023. ISSN 0960-1481.
  15. ↑ "Four tidal projects to deliver 41 MW in UK under CfD scheme". Renewablesnow.com. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  16. ↑ "CfD Success | Morlais". www.morlaisenergy.com. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  17. ↑ Jay (2022-02-07). "HydroWing To demonstrate Next generation Tocardo Turbines at Morlais Tidal Demo-Zone". Marine Energy Wales. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  18. ↑ Parkinson, Richard (25 October 2023). Tidal showcase – the path to pilot farms. Ocean Energy Europe, The Hauge.
  19. 1 2 3 4 "Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 5: results". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  20. ↑ International, Power Engineering (2023-11-15). "HydroWing unveils plans for tidal energy project in Wales". Power Engineering International. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  21. ↑ "Contracts for Difference (CfD) Allocation Round 4: results". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  22. ↑ "Projects – QED Naval Limited". Retrieved 2023-11-26.
  23. ↑ Smith, Glenn (25 October 2023). Tidal showcase – the path to pilot farms. Verdant Isles – Morlais Project. Ocean Energy Europe, The Hauge.
  24. ↑ "A Milestone for Tidal Energy: Verdant Power Successfully Retrieves a Test Turbine After Six Months of Continuous Operation in New York". Energy.gov. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  25. ↑ "Nova and Sabella secure 12MW Welsh tidal site". reNEWS.biz. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  26. ↑ Husseini, Talal (2018-12-05). "Orbital Marine Power to demonstrate floating tidal technology at Morlais". Power Technology. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
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