WORK on a massive tidal energy plant off the north Antrim coast could start in 2018.
Fair Head Tidal is a 100MW scheme near Ballycastle that will see several large turbines installed on the sea bed generating enough power for 70,000 homes.
The project is a joint venture between Cork-base DP Energy and Belgian firm Bluepower NV, whose shareholders include the offshore contractor DEME and utility Nuhma.
The team behind the project yesterday said it was "pressing on" with plans to submit its marine licence application this summer.
It is expected the project will cost around £400 million.
DP Energy project manager Clodagh McGrath said: "The Fair Head Tidal development strategy is to progress with a 100MW offshore consent application and build the project out in phases, planned to commence in 2018.
"In the last three years we have engaged with a wide range of project stakeholders including local communities and government departments.
“We will of course continue this engagement process as we finalise our plans and look forward to hosting more local open days this spring before we complete our application.
"At these open days we will be sharing details on the surveys completed, the proposed tidal energy technologies and how we plan to bring the energy ashore and connect into the national electricity grid.
"We will ensure that further details on the open days are communicated nearer the time. The open days will be attended by the project team who will be able to explain our plans and respond to any questions.”
It is one of two tidal arrays planned for the north Antrim coastal area.
Tidal Ventures, a joint project by Irish firm OpenHydro and Canadian Brookfield Energy Group wants to instal a 100MW scheme off Torr Head.
It is still carrying out surveys of the area ahead of making a submission.
In 2008, a much smaller turbine array was installed in Strangford Lough.
The SeaGen project featured two horizontal turbines which were driven by tidal currents moving in and out of the lough.
However, its owners Atlantis Resources announced last month it planned to decommission the turbines
The company said it had been "an essential research and design platform".
