Turning the tide

The

has selected

as its engineering and management contractor for the Wave Hub renewable energy project 10 miles off the north coast of Cornwall.

The agency is leading the development of Wave Hub, which will facilitate the pre-commercial testing of wave energy devices through its connection to the National Grid via a subsea cable.

Four wave device developers are working with the agency on the project, and it is anticipated that up to 30 devices could be deployed. Consents have already been obtained from the government for the 20MW capacity Wave Hub site.

J P Kenny will manage the design, procurement and installation of Wave Hub and the onshore works on the agency's behalf, including the selection of sub-contractors.

Detailed designs for Wave Hub are expected to be complete by May 2009 with installation and operation expected in 2010.

An independent economic impact assessment, commissioned by the agency, has shown that Wave Hub could create 1,800 jobs and £560m in the UK economy over 25 years. Almost 1,000 of those jobs and £332m could be generated in South West England alone.