Storage emerges as option for Bardsey Sound tidal energy scheme

Rural development agency Cadwyn Clwyd has published a tender for a scoping study on battery storage suitability for the YnNi Llŷn and Nova Innovation tidal energy project planned for deployment off Wales.

The work would be required to start as soon as possible following contracting with the successful supplier, with completion expected in one month, according to the tender published on Welsh government’s procurement portal Sell2Wales.

The deadline for applications has been set for June 1, 2018, with the contract award expected to follow a week later.

The Bardsey Sound project, dubbed Enli, is proposed for the area off the Llyn Peninsula in Northern Wales.

Nova Innovation received agreement for lease from The Crown Estate in summer 2017, marking the formal start of exploration activities for the project which include site surveys and studies to inform the technical feasibility.

With its partner YnNi Llyn, a regional renewable energy organization, the company signed a memorandum of understanding that will see YnNi Llyn supporting Nova with the development of the tidal project, and Nova supporting YnNi Llyn with the development of infrastructure that will enable local use of energy.

Nova Innovation is already taking part in the development of energy storage solutions for tidal energy projects. The company, and its project partner Denchi, secured close to £200,000 capital support to build and operate an energy storage solution for the Shetland Tidal Array.

The key aim of the project, backed through the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP), is to demonstrate the economic and technical benefit of Nova Innovation’s REStore system that combines storage with renewable energy generation to allow control of output to the grid.

Once all of the assessments are completed, including the project’s feasibility and viability assessment, as well as the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), a marine license application will be submitted to the regulator, Marine Resources Wales.

It typically takes a further year for the regulator to assess the application and make a decision, and during this period, the public will have the opportunity to formally comment on the proposals, Nova Innovation said earlier.