Plans to install the world’s biggest tidal energy turbine in Northern Ireland have been delayed.

The turbine, which would be the first of kinds in the world, was due to be installed close to the mouth of Strangford Lough at the end of the month.

The SeaGen commercial energy system is to be installed by Marine Current Turbines and the company said the delay is because the jack-up installation vessel the company will charter is detained on its current project for an extended period.

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The planned turbine will have the capacity to produce 1.2MW of electricity, which is four times more than any other tidal turbine and will generate clean and sustainable electricity for around 1,000 homes.

While the turbine is ready to be installed and is waiting in Belfast’s Harland and Wolff shipyard, Marine Current Turbines hope to schedule a new installation date by the end of the year.

Strangford Lough narrows has one of the fastest tidal flows in the world and there are plans to replicate the prototype on a large scale over the next few years.

Marine Current Turbines believe that they can achieve up to 500MW of tidal capacity by 2015 based on the SeaGen technology.

(SB/SP)