The Wave Hub could be in place by 2006

Specialist engineering, legal and financial consultants have now been appointed to carry out feasibility studies into the scheme.

The Wave Hub would link wave power machines with the national grid.

If the study's results are positive, the hub could be positioned about nine miles off the north Cornwall coast in two years time.

Preliminary view

The South West Regional Development Agency, which has committed almost �500,000 to the project, has appointed Halcrow to carry out the main technical feasibility study.

Experts from Halcrow will interview marine energy device developers from around the world to assess the level of potential demand for Wave Hub and report back to the South West RDA in December.

And Devon-based law firm Bond Pearce, will look at the complex and unique planning issues.

Dominic Vincent, environment manager at the RDA said: "There will be a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes over the next few months, and our consultants will be determining the views and needs of wave device developers from around the globe during that time.

"The RDA will receive the final report by the end of the year, but we should have formed a preliminary view by autumn."

The world's first offshore tidal energy turbine was built into the seabed about a kilometre and a half (one mile) offshore from Lynmouth in Devon last year.