Welsh Government backing has been given to what will become the
largest consented tidal energy project in Europe.
Owned and managed by Ynys Môn social enterprise Menter Môn, the
Morlais tidal scheme is the first of its kind anywhere in the
world and will be operational from 2026. The Welsh Government has
taken an £8m equity stake in the project to ensure progress.
The Anglesey site has the potential to generate enough energy for
up to 180,000 typical Welsh households, offering a unique ‘plug
and play' model for developers of tidal energy devices. This will
help reduce costs as they scale up operations to generate clean
electricity.
The Welsh Government investment will help fund the Cydnerth phase
of the project, which will see the grid connection strengthened
at Parc Cybi, Holyhead.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, , said:
“We want to make Wales a world centre for emerging tidal
technologies and we're off to a good start on several fronts.
“Our investment will support Menter Môn Morlais to scale up
capacity, and develop an industrial cluster for tidal energy and
innovation in North Wales, whilst delivering jobs and growth
through its pioneering technology, keeping the value local.
“This will further benefit clean energy suppliers of all sizes
and position Wales at the forefront of the energy transition.”
Dafydd Gruffydd, Managing Director of Menter Môn said:
“We welcome the Minister's announcement, which strengthens our
ability to deliver clean energy and local jobs through the
Morlais project. This funding supports our vision to position
North Wales as a leader in tidal energy innovation, creating
opportunities for growth and collaboration across the region.”
John Idris Jones, Chair of Menter Môn Morlais Limited added:
“This funding demonstrates the Welsh Government's commitment to
renewable energy and the significant role tidal power can play in
our energy future. By supporting projects like Morlais, we are
not only unlocking the potential of our natural resources but
also laying the foundation for a resilient, green economy in
North Wales.”
