Carbon Trust To Cut Cost Of Marine Power

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Marine power technology is to be developed and its cost reduced with the help of more mature industries as part of a project set up by the Carbon Trust.

The trust has announced a £1 million research initiative that will seek to transfer useful technology from other sectors in a bid to bring down costs.

Although the UK could get up to 20 per cent of its current electricity demand from the sea, this is being held back by the cost of marine power projects, according to the Carbon Trust.

It claims that up to a third of the expense associated with generating electricity from the sea is down to the cost of components.

To try to reduce these costs, it is to reach out to other industries, including the carbon intensive aviation and oil sectors, which can help with turbine blade design and underwater hydraulics, respectively.

Mark Williamson, director of innovations at the Carbon Trust, said: “In the face of the economic downturn, these companies are at the forefront of an energy revolution that will see the creation of thousands of green collar jobs and a boost to the UK’s economy.

“Our targeted funding will accelerate the marine energy sector’s development and so speed its carbon saving potential which is vital to us in staying within the UK’s carbon budgets.”