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World's First Commercial Wave Plant Opens in Britain by Reuters CNN.com, November 21, 2000

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- The world's first commercial wave power station has started operations on the small Scottish island of Islay, operators Wavegen said on Tuesday.

Wavegen said the launch of the 500 kilowatt wave power station, capable of lighting 400 homes, opens the door for wave power to become a major contributor of renewable energy and assist reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

"There is a huge global market for wave energy, it has a great future," Wavegen managing director Allan Thomson told Reuters.

Thomson said the wave power station, which is connected to the national grid, cost about one million pounds to build excluding research and development.

"Our next power stations will be cheaper - half the cost for the same output," he said.

Greenpeace renewables campaigner Ian Taylor said the news of the launch was welcome but more government backing is needed to kick start the industry.

"Government action is needed now to achieve with wave power in the UK what was achieved in Denmark with wind power," he said.

Taylor said Britain ranks low down on the league of European countries in terms of the amount of energy that is produced from renewable.

Britain currently produces 2.6 percent if its power from such sources, of which more than half comprises large scale hydro-electric schemes. The government wants to increase this to 10 percent by 2010.

Related Link:
Oceans of Power - Wavegen Technology