Soon to Rise (or Sink): The Wave Hub

Filed in archive Wave on August 28, 2006

What is the Wave Hub?

When it's funding is completed, it may become the newest, most innovative example of the UK's renewable energy program. The Wave Hub is a deep-sea electricity socket that will connect up to four wave energy devices to the national grid 10 miles off the Cornish coast.

Slated to deliver three (3) percent of Cornwall's electricity needs (that's 20 megawatts to power 7500 homes). Not bad for a project with a (whooping!) total development cost of US$8.46 Million.

According to Jane Henderson, chief executive of the South West of England Regional Development Agency (RDA), "Today's announcement is another significant milestone for the Wave Hub project; We are now awaiting the outcome of our consents application. If that is granted, we expect Wave Hub to come into operation in 2008."

A decision is expected from the UK Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) Marine Renewables Deployment Fund the by the end of the year. Let's see what happens to the Wave Hub, hopefully this one gets sunk (at the bottom of the ocean where it should be!)