Permission to conduct a wave energy investigation over an area of approximately 475 hectares within the Clayoquot District, off the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada has been granted to Pacific Coastal Wave Energy Corporation by British Columbia's Ministry of Agriculture and Lands.

The Investigative Permit, issued by the Ministry, is for a period of two years and enables data to be collected in order to determine the best potential site for the deployment of a CETO wave energy installation, taking into account surface wave and bathymetry characteristics.

Pacific Coastal is a wholly owned subsidiary of the CETO Development Company Limited, Renewable Energy Holdings plc's joint venture company with EDF Energies Nouvelles.

Commenting on the award of the permit Mike Proffitt, Chief Executive Officer of REH, commented: "We are delighted to receive this permit as we can now begin the work required to identify the best site for our CETO wave energy technology, while final testing of CETO is concluded in Perth, Australia. This means that no time will be wasted in the subsequent deployment of a commercial CETO plant in West Vancouver Island. This area of the Pacific coast-line is a huge resource for wave energy and we are confident that this plant of approximately 10MW will be the first of many in the region."