The UK energy regulator OFGEM has accredited Marine Current Turbines' SeaGen tidal energy system, for ROCs (Renewable Energy Certificates) it was announced today (7th July). The move sees SeaGen as the first marine renewable energy project to get ROCs accreditation which crucially opens the door for government payments for producing electricity.

Martin Wright, Managing Director of Marine Current Turbines said: "Securing ROCs accreditation is a significant step forward as it is the first time that a tidal current system has been officially recognised as a commercial power station. Up until now, marine renewable technologies have not gone beyond the R&D phase. SeaGen has changed all that."

"SeaGen is now consistently producing full power to the grid and is performing just as we expected.  At 1.2MW capacity, it is the world's most powerful marine energy device of any kind to be grid connected, and has to date generated the most energy from the sea onto the grid."

"We have had our challenges with the SeaGen project and we know that we still have much to do to ensure that our technology is deployed on a truly commercial basis. However, the ROCs accreditation is a positive signal that tidal energy will play a part in the country's future energy mix."

Whilst SeaGen is performing well, Marine Current Turbines is however seriously concerned that the current investment climate threatens the long-term future of the marine energy sector.  The company, along with other parts of the marine energy sector, is therefore looking to the UK Government to adopt measures that will encourage new investment into the tidal and wave sectors.

Martin Wright said: "The Government's forthcoming Renewable Energy Strategy Review is critical to clean-tech companies such as Marine Current Turbines.  The current investment climate is the worst in living memory and following the announcement to increase the ROC multiple to 2 for offshore wind, there is effectively no market to pull marine energy forward.  It will be vital that the government addresses this is in its Renewable Energy Strategy Review and takes urgent action.  If not, there is a significant risk that tidal power will suffer the same fate that befell the British wind industry: no home-grown manufacturing and engineering jobs."