UNSUITABLE sea conditions have led to a £16.4m giant turbine, which would use the power of the sea to generate electricity, remaining at a site in Pembroke Dock.

Wales’ first giant tidal energy generator was unveiled in August 2014 at Pembroke Port by First Minister Carwyn Jones.

The patented DeltaStream device developed by Tidal Energy Ltd will be installed in Ramsey Sound.

EU funds worth £8m have been invested in the project for a single 400kilowatt turbine, with match funding from majority shareholder, Welsh renewable energy company Eco2 Ltd, plus a further £400,000 from the Carbon Trust.

Named ‘Ysbryd y Mor’ – meaning ‘Spirit of the Sea’ – the demonstration device has been fabricated and assembled by Pembroke Dock-based company Mustang Marine.

An extensive suite of monitoring equipment will be installed on and around the device in Ramsey Sound.

Speaking to the January meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Tidal Energy Ltd Operations Manager Clive Adshead said teething problems in lowering the test turbine to the seabed meant in was still in Pembroke Dock.

Members heard a ‘dumb barge’ used to move the 200 tonne demonstration turbine couldn’t be operated in choppy waters. It is hoped the turbine will now be installed during a milder neap tide

“Getting it in the water is really, really expensive. We’ve been paying for that barge sat alongside the dock since November.

“We hope to get the device in the water as soon as the weather abates. We’re still hoping to use the barge.”

It is hoped the turbine will be in the water from April-September.

“This device is not cost-effective; it will never make anybody any money. What it will do is show it works, and it works with the marine mammals.

“It’s the first turbines that are always going to be costly; we’ve got to go through the development phase.”

The lease at Ramsey runs until 2021.