The Crown Estate CEO Visit

Thursday Feburary 15th, 2024

Anglesey tidal energy scheme welcomes Crown Estate

Menter Môn Morlais welcomed Crown Estate Chief Executive, Dan Labbad to the landfall substation for the first time this week. He toured the site to gain an understanding of the new tidal energy development off the coast of Ynys Cybi (Holy Island) – the largest of its kind licensed under the Crown Estate.

This week’s visit was an opportunity to update Mr Labbad about progress on site as well as project next steps. With recent completion of the landfall substation and work ongoing by the groundbreaking Marine Characterisation Research Project (MCRP) – the team were keen to show how Menter Môn Morlais continues to lead the way in a sector which will play a crucial role in decarbonising electricity generation.

Menter Môn secured the Crown Estate lease for 35km2 of seabed in 2014 as one of seven sites aimed at promoting growth of the tidal energy sector in the UK.

John Idris Jones, a director of Menter Môn Morlais, said: “As we move to the next phase in our development it was great to welcome Mr Labbad and colleagues on site during their visit to north Wales.  It was an opportunity for them to see for themselves the progress we are making, as well as how the work of the MCRP to monitor possible effects on wildlife will inform future tidal energy projects.

“Now that the substation has been completed, we’re continuing to work closely with developers of tidal energy technology, local suppliers, and industry experts – keeping us on track to deploy the first devices at sea from 2026. Morlais is a unique project, we’re proud to showcase our progress in delivering what the Crown Estate intended with their demonstration zones over 10 years ago.”

The visit comes ahead of a busy period for the Morlais team as they prepare for the launch of UK Government’s Allocation Round 6 (AR6) for the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme and the Marine Energy Wales’s annual conference in Swansea. 

The visit formed part of a wider networking event held at M-SParc, Gaerwen, which was an opportunity for local stakeholders to learn more about The Crown Estate work in North Wales.