§ 16. Mr. EvennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the level of investment since 1979 into wave energy research; and what initiatives he has undertaken to promote its use.
§ Mr. MoynihanMy Department has invested £17 million since 1979–80 on wave energy research, including £900,000 for an experimental shoreline wave energy project on the Scottish island of Islay, which is the most technologically advanced of its type in the world. The review of wave energy currently under way is due to report early next year.
§ Mr. EvennettI thank my hon. Friend for his reply, which is most impressive. Can he give the House more details about the important review of wave energy and will he also tell us which other projects it will cover?
§ Mr. MoynihanYes. The current review includes a detailed, technical and commercial assessment of the leading wave energy devices ranging from large offshore to shoreline systems, including Professor Salter's duck, the National Engineering Laboratory's breakwater device, the Bristol cylinder, Coventry polytechnic's circular clam and other devices. The review has covered four main areas of work—wave resource modelling, capital costing, availability assessment and economic modelling.