The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has today granted its approval of the offshore elements of PTEC, a transformational 30MW tidal power project. The onshore part of the project was approved by the local planning authority last year. PTEC is now the largest consented tidal stream energy project in England and Wales.

The Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre (PTEC) has received the go-ahead to create a state-of-the-art tidal energy generation project off the Isle of Wight.

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has today granted its approval of the offshore elements of PTEC, a transformational 30MW tidal power project. The onshore part of the project was approved by the local planning authority last year. PTEC is now the largest consented tidal stream energy project in England and Wales.

Operated as a joint venture between private company Perpetuus Energy Ltd and the Isle of Wight Council, the purpose of PTEC is to commercially operate a range of different world-leading turbine technologies, which will bring international companies to the area and accelerate the UKs adoption and understanding of tidal energy. Up to 60 turbines could be deployed at PTEC, producing clean, predictable electricity to the UKs electricity grid.

Global turbine manufacturers and supply chain companies are already showing interest in and commitment to the development. Evidence from other tidal energy projects suggests that PTEC could create and safeguard hundreds of jobs and attract significant investment into the local economy.

It is hoped that the construction of the project will start in 2017, with potential to be generating electricity from late 2018. Where possible, PTEC will source materials and services locally, utilising the extensive marine and engineering-related supply chain on the Isle of Wight and around the Solent.

Project Director Mark Francis said: "We are delighted with the decision. PTEC is of strategic importance to the UKs tidal industry as it delivers a fully consented site for a range of turbine technologies, deployed in large commercial arrays. By allowing multiple turbine technologies to use the same site and share the same consents and infrastructure, we can simultaneously bring down the cost of energy and accelerate the growth of the tidal industry.

"We started work on the PTEC project back in 2010, and secured the seabed Agreement for Lease in November 2012. We have been liaising with the MMO on the determination of our consent application for more than 16 months, with support from Royal HaskoningDHV and IT Power, both of whom have a proven track record in the tidal energy field.

"We now look forward to further work with the MMO and other stakeholders and completing the final development phase before we begin construction."