On this page you will find answers to some commonly asked questions about Wave Hub. Click on the questions below to jump to the answers, or simply scroll down.

• Why the interest in UK marine renewable energy?
• What is the South West RDA doing about renewable energy
• Why is the South West developing the wave hub project?
• What is the Wave Hub Project?
• How would wave hub be constructed?
• Which wave energy devices will be connected to the Wave Hub?
• Where will the Wave Hub be sited?
• What are the potential benefits?
• What are the potential environmental impacts?
• What happens next?

Why the interest in UK marine renewable energy?

The UK has one of the largest wave energy resources in Europe. Allowing for technical, practical and environmental limitations, wave energy could generate up to one sixth of the UK's electricity consumption. By 2020 the wave energy market in the UK could by worth £0.2 billion. 
 
The UK Government is committed to increasing the amount of electrical energy generated by renewable energy sources to 10% by 2010 and 15% by 2015 with an aspiration to 20% by 2020. This will help to address increasingly important energy and environmental issues including the security of energy supplies, climate change, resource depletion and environmental pollution.

What is the South West RDA doing about renewable energy?

The South West Regional Development Agency (SWRDA) has identified the opportunity for the region to become a leader in renewable energy. The RDA has identified wave, tidal, and biomass energy as having the greatest potential for the regional economy, and is supporting demonstrator projects in these technologies. 
 
The RDA and its partners set up Regen SW, which is the renewable energy agency for the region, with a remit to support the development of renewable energy in the South West. 
In addition, the SWRDA has signed up to the Renewable Energy Strategy for the South West, which identifies three key areas where focus is required: 

• Deploying renewable energy on the ground
• Developing skills and awareness
• Building the South West's renewable energy industry.

Why is the South West developing the wave hub project?

The South West wants to take a prominent position in marine renewable energy. The region has the potential to generate substantial amounts of electricity from its wave and tidal stream resources, and has the skills and facilities to support development of the industry. The SWRDA recognises the potential of the marine energy industry for the region and has decided to support demonstration projects in this sector.

What is the Wave Hub Project?

The Wave Hub concept is to build an electrical grid connection point approximately 16 km offshore into which wave energy devices would be connected. It will provide a well defined and monitored site with electrical connection to the onshore electricity grid and will greatly simplify and shorten the legal consents process for developers. Wave Hub would reduce the risk for developers of the first pre-commercial wave machine arrays. If it goes ahead, Wave Hub could be commissioned by 2010.

An artist's impression of the Wave Hub. The wave energy converters are the 'MRC1000' being developed by ORECon of Plymouth (right) and 'Pelamis' by Pelamis Wave Power Ltd of Edinburgh (left).  
Image by Industrial Art Studio Ltd, St Ives, Cornwall. www.ind-art.co.uk

How would wave hub be constructed?

A number of engineering options have been considered, based on what is technically sound and achievable, has minimum environmental impact, is cost-effective and does not present significant safety and operational issues. 
 
The preferred option is to create a 'wet hub' on the seabed, linked to the mainland by a subsea cable. The hub would consist of a cable termination and distribution unit connected to four underwater power connection units and these in turn would be connected to wave energy devices on or just below the surface. All the underwater equipment is known technology and has been proven in the oil and gas industry. 

Which wave energy devices will be connected to the Wave Hub?

An example of a wave energy conversion device is shown here. These devices capture energy from the waves and use it to drive electricity generators. The electricity is exported to the shore and into the electricity grid via a subsea cable. 
 
There are many wave energy devices currently being developed by industrial and engineering companies in the UK and abroad. It is generally accepted that the UK has a lead in the development of these technologies but others are catching up fast.  
 
Image shows the 'PowerBuoy' designed by Ocean Power Technologies Ltd.

Where will the Wave Hub be sited?

The best area for wave energy is close to the electricity grid off the north coast of Cornwall. Critical constraints are the wave climate, grid connection and sea areas excluded by a variety of other established users. Taking into account water depth, seabed condition, shipping lanes, the MOD practice area and following consultation with the fishing industry, the best place for the wave hub is about 16 km off the coast, NNE of St Ives. The area of sea occupied by the devices and a safety zone around them would measure 4,000m by 2,000m. This area may also have a beneficial effect as a nursery ground for fish stocks.

What are the potential benefits?

The construction of the wave hub would have a variety of direct and indirect benefits:

• Recognition of the South West region as a leader in the field of wave power electricity generation.
• Build on the work already carried out by NaREC, EMEC, The Carbon Trust and DBERR to establish the UK as the world leader in marine energy.
• Wave Hub would provide developers with the next step towards commercial application of devices and enable future financing of commercial projects.
• Provide a resource in support education and training in renewable energy technologies in the South West.
• Create 100 jobs directly, and be a catalyst for the creation of an entire new industry building on the South West's traditional strengths of maritime and engineering expertise. Jobs could be created through the manufacturing, deploying, maintaining, inspecting, repairing and decommissioning the potentially wide range of devices.
• The indirect benefits of such an industry are calculated at up to 1,800 jobs and £560 million in the UK economy over 25 years. Almost 1,000 of these jobs and £332 million would be generated in South West England.
• The production of a significant amount of clean renewable energy in the South West, to meet regional targets.

What are the potential environmental impacts?

An environmental impact assessment has been carried out. This involved an analysis of the potential impacts of the project on different parts of the environment. This includes the effects of laying the cable (most of which will be offshore) and the impacts of the likely arrays of wave energy devices on marine ecology, fisheries, recreational users and navigation. There will be very little terrestrial land-take, with only one cable coming ashore, terminating near the site of a disused power station as shown in the aerial photograph below. These reports can be viewed by clicking on the Documents page.  

What happens next?

The South West RDA provided £500,000 to fund a detailed feasibility study to investigate the technical, environmental, legal and economic aspects of the proposed Wave Hub. The results of these studies were published in February 2005 and are available in the Documents section of this website.  
 
The next step is to undertake detailed environmental assessment work, further engineering design , obtain all legal permits and leases, complete the business plan for the project and prepare legal contracts with device and project developers.  
 
At the same time, the South West RDA will be concluding negotiations for the construction costs of the wave hub. The DBERR have already made a conditional offer of £4.5m from their Marine Renewables Deployment Fund.  
 
Subject to gaining the necessary approvals and funding, it is anticipated that construction could take place in the spring of 2010, with the first power generated by the end of 2010.