Wave power giant ready to set sail for trials
THE first of a new generation of wave-powered generators designed and built in Sunderland’s shipyards are due to set sail today.
The million-pound Neptune Proteus tidal stream demonstrator has been built on Wearside by family-run Wear Dock and Engineering.
Weighing more than 160 tonnes and stretching to around 20 metres long, with a breadth of 14 metres, the generator is due to be shipped to Humberside where it will be put into action in a series of trials.
A 1,000 tonne crane has been brought in to lift the generator onto a 40 metre sq barge.
Neptune Proteus is the first tidal generator to be manufactured at the site of the city’s former shipbuilding yards. Since taking over the Wear Dockyard in 2002 Harry Wilson and his family have established Wear Dock and Engineering as a leading east coast ship-repairer and marine engineering facility.
Mr Wilson said: “There is clearly great potential in tidal power. This project will hopefully lead to more work within the renewable energy sector, which will not only secure existing jobs in the city but longer term will enable us to create new jobs including apprenticeships.”
Sunderland City Council leader Paul Watson said: “We would like to hope that the manufacture of the tidal power generator demonstrates Sunderland’s ability to deliver these new innovative and green industry projects on time and on budget.”
Share
