QED recently held constructive discussions with Ynys Môn MP Virginia Crosbie who introduced key stakeholders to their flagship Menter Môn Morlais Ltd project.
A strong advocate for decarbonization, Virginia believes that tidal energy will play an important factor in the UK’s renewable targets. QED and its Welsh subsidiary MOR Energy recently celebrated the award of revenue support funding secured through the government’s CFD renewable incentive scheme and Allocation Round 5 (AR5). This supports QED’s initial 4.5MW project at Menter Môn Morlais at Holy Island, Anglesey, North Wales, and its long-term plans for 30MW. Following their meeting with Virginia, the company are keen to collaborate with local supply chain and support her in making a real difference to the local economy and coastal communities.
In agreement, Virginia stated, “I had a great meeting with QED about their tidal energy ambitions on Anglesey. I will do everything I can to bring jobs, and investment like this to our ‘Energy Island’ and I will support companies like QED to achieve their ambitions. I am delighted QED is working with local companies to develop its tidal project at Morlais, part funded by the UK government. These are exciting times for Ynys Môn and I am delighted to be playing my part and working so closely with innovative businesses like QED.”
The meeting offered an opportunity for QED to introduce its disruptive technology – a self-deploying tidal system, called ‘Subhub’ – and set out plans for the company’s operations in Holyhead. Additionally, there were exploratory discussions to establish an operational base for QED’s subsidiary Tocardo and assistance to raise the profile of tidal energy in parliament.
QED see great opportunity in setting up their operations in Holyhead. With its ambitions to scale up their MOR Energy project to its full berth allocation of 30MW, this would spawn at least 30 Subhub platforms and 90 of their Tocardo T3 turbines, bringing significant value add and jobs to the area. The tax benefits that come with being within such a Freeport area speak for themselves and are particularly attractive to investors and supply chain.
Ongoing, wider discussions with Stena regarding QED’s plans have also enabled it to merge with the area’s overall strategy. With a fuller understanding of the company’s vision, technology and its requirements to establish the business within the Freeport of Holyhead – there is great potential for the newly named ‘Prosperity Parc’.
QED are delighted with the introductions made in this meeting and see this as a great step towards ‘Tidal Town’. The tidal sector has won significantly from recent AR4 and AR5 rounds. Morlais and Wales has a great opportunity to establish supply chain and take an important step towards its ‘Energy Island’ vision and mix. Tidal energy, with its predictability, will play a valuable role in securing a low-carbon future and energy security.