Abstract
Wave Hub is an innovative demonstration site for generation of wave energy located in the South West of England. In simple terms, Wave Hub consists of an offshore electrical 'socket' to connect arrays of wave energy converters to the national grid via undersea cables, allowing technology developers to demonstrate and monitor the operation of their devices in real sea conditions. A key element in the development of the proposed Wave Hub was to gain consent from the relevant UK regulatory bodies. This paper describes the process for the consent application followed and highlights the main issues encountered during the preparation of the environmental studies to support the application, and subsequent discussions with regulators and stakeholders.