PLANS to build the world's first commercial wave-powered electricity

generating plant in Shetland are under threat because of a lack of

Government support, it was claimed yesterday.

A UK-Dutch consortium, which includes Scottish Hydro-Electric, wants

to build the plant at a cost of between #5m and #10m at Fugla Ness.

Mr Richard Fenton, from civil engineers Acer Consultants, another

member of the consortium, said the generator would be able to produce

three megawatts -- 10% of Shetland's peak electricity needs.

He said the project should have qualified for 40% grant aid under the

EC's Thermie programme which supports renewable energy projects: ''But

the British Government failed to support us -- and that meant we

couldn't even get past the first base.''

The Shetland system would involve creating a trumpet-shaped cleft in a

rock face. This would channel waves into a reservoir built above sea

level so that the water could be used to drive a conventional

electricity generating turbine.

''It would be the first commercial wave-powered set-up in the world,''

said Mr Fenton, who is in Orkney to lobby support at a conference on

energy strategies for island communities.

''But without the support of the Government, the project, if not dead

and buried, is facing a bleak future.''

Professor Stephen Salter, an expert in wave power technology from the

Department of Mechanical Engineering at Edinburgh University, described

the Government's attitude as baffling.

''You would expect your supporting team to be shouting and cheering

for you in Brussels,'' he said. ''But they are doing the very opposite.

It's almost as if they don't want it to be a success.''

A Department of Trade and Industry spokesman said last night that the

Dutch Government had put the proposal together for Thermie programme

funding.

''The British representative did not offer his support because he had

not been asked in advance to do so,'' the spokesman said.