IT may be 50 miles from the sea, but one York company is making waves when it comes to renewable energy.

T-Gen Service Ltd based in Copmanthorpe village is at the centre of a plan to harness wave power.

The firm was established in 2004 to explore alternative energy sources using marine power and has come one step closer to producing an innovative power device.

T-Gen's Thomas Adamson and Martin Sledmore, with the support of Business Link York and North Yorkshire, have designed a device which sits on the seabed and generates power using wave motion.

The device has the ability to produce electricity and hydrogen, and the potential adaptability to remove salt from seawater.

T-Gen has secured significant financial support through Yorkshire Forward's research grant scheme to undertake a more detailed feasibility study and produce a larger scale prototype which can undergo wave tank trials.

Stuart Fuller, a Business Link adviser, said: "T-Gen has been developing the device at its small workshop and testing centre at Copmanthorpe in York.

"Rigorous, larger scale testing is now needed to develop the device further. Accessing this £71,000 research funding will allow T-Gen to significantly progress their exciting concept.

T-Gen is building its larger-scale test model in a nine-month quantitative research programme, during which they will be using the specialist wave tank facilities at the New And Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth to carry out practical trials.