Graham
09-16-2013, 01:29 PM
First commercial tidal energy development (http://www.business7.co.uk/business-news/scottish-business-news/2013/09/16/consent-granted-for-first-commercial-tidal-energy-development-106408-24008596/)
By Scott McCullochSep 16 2013
http://www.forumforthefuture.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/gf-blog-banner/greenfutures/blog/page-7credit-hammerfeststrom_0.jpghttp://news.images.itv.com/image/file/31131/article_eeb9a97c89d35c47_1337250870_9j-4aaqsk.jpeg
Scottish Government has granted permission for an initial six turbine array in waters between Orkney and the Scottish mainland
The Scottish Government has granted permission for what will be the largest tidal energy project in Europe in the Pentland Firth.
The first phase will see MeyGen set up the first six of its AR 1000 demonstration tidal array turbines, which combined will generate nine Megawatts (MW0 of power of a planned 61 turbine development in waters between Orkney and the Scottish mainland.
Construction of the 73 foot tall turbines will be phased over a period up to 2020, and when fully operational, the 86MW array is expected will provide enough electricity to power 42,000 homes.
It will be the first commercial tidal energy project deployed in Scottish waters.
MeyGen, a Scottish registered company with offices in Edinburgh and London, is the project sponsor and development company for the Inner Sound development between the island of Stroma and the north easterly tip of the Scottish mainland, comprising 3.5km of fast flowing water.
The company was set up solely for the development of the Inner Sound project in a joint venture between investment bank Morgan Stanley, independent power generator International Power and tidal technology provider Atlantis Resources Corporation.
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: "Today we have granted consent to MeyGen Ltd to develop the largest tidal turbine array in Europe and the first commercial project off these shores.
"This is a major step forward for Scotland's marine renewable energy industry.
“When fully operational, the 86 megawatt array could generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 42,000 homes - around 40 per cent of homes in the Highlands.
"This exciting development in the waters around Orkney is just the first phase for a site that could eventually yield up to 398 megawatts."
Speaking before the Scottish Renewables Marine Conference, Ewing also announced developers Aquamarine Power Ltd and Pelamis Wave Power are to share a slice of a £13 million wave "first array" support programme, part of the Scottish Government's Marine Renewables Commercialisation Fund.
Mr Ewing said the tide is turning for the wave sector.
"We must tackle climate change. We need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels through better and more efficient uses of energy. Marine energy - a home-grown technology with huge potential - is part of the solution," he said.
The Carbon Trust has estimated that wave and tidal resources could provide 20 per cent of the UK's electricity if fully developed.
Environmental group WWF Scotland has welcomed the announcements.
WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: "This is a significant announcement and a major boost for the marine renewable industry in Scotland.
"However, as there is little point in generating huge amounts of marine renewable energy on Scotland's islands if it cannot also be got to the mainland, we now need UK and Scottish ministers to find a way forward that enables us to harness the full potential of this clean energy source.
"Alongside energy saving measures, marine renewables will have a critical role to play in helping Scotland reduce climate emissions as we phase out polluting fossil fuels and nuclear power.
"With careful planning we can harness Scotland's huge wave and tidal energy to help cut our climate emissions, while safeguarding the nation's tremendous marine environment."
By Scott McCullochSep 16 2013
http://www.forumforthefuture.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/gf-blog-banner/greenfutures/blog/page-7credit-hammerfeststrom_0.jpghttp://news.images.itv.com/image/file/31131/article_eeb9a97c89d35c47_1337250870_9j-4aaqsk.jpeg
Scottish Government has granted permission for an initial six turbine array in waters between Orkney and the Scottish mainland
The Scottish Government has granted permission for what will be the largest tidal energy project in Europe in the Pentland Firth.
The first phase will see MeyGen set up the first six of its AR 1000 demonstration tidal array turbines, which combined will generate nine Megawatts (MW0 of power of a planned 61 turbine development in waters between Orkney and the Scottish mainland.
Construction of the 73 foot tall turbines will be phased over a period up to 2020, and when fully operational, the 86MW array is expected will provide enough electricity to power 42,000 homes.
It will be the first commercial tidal energy project deployed in Scottish waters.
MeyGen, a Scottish registered company with offices in Edinburgh and London, is the project sponsor and development company for the Inner Sound development between the island of Stroma and the north easterly tip of the Scottish mainland, comprising 3.5km of fast flowing water.
The company was set up solely for the development of the Inner Sound project in a joint venture between investment bank Morgan Stanley, independent power generator International Power and tidal technology provider Atlantis Resources Corporation.
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: "Today we have granted consent to MeyGen Ltd to develop the largest tidal turbine array in Europe and the first commercial project off these shores.
"This is a major step forward for Scotland's marine renewable energy industry.
“When fully operational, the 86 megawatt array could generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 42,000 homes - around 40 per cent of homes in the Highlands.
"This exciting development in the waters around Orkney is just the first phase for a site that could eventually yield up to 398 megawatts."
Speaking before the Scottish Renewables Marine Conference, Ewing also announced developers Aquamarine Power Ltd and Pelamis Wave Power are to share a slice of a £13 million wave "first array" support programme, part of the Scottish Government's Marine Renewables Commercialisation Fund.
Mr Ewing said the tide is turning for the wave sector.
"We must tackle climate change. We need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels through better and more efficient uses of energy. Marine energy - a home-grown technology with huge potential - is part of the solution," he said.
The Carbon Trust has estimated that wave and tidal resources could provide 20 per cent of the UK's electricity if fully developed.
Environmental group WWF Scotland has welcomed the announcements.
WWF Scotland director Lang Banks said: "This is a significant announcement and a major boost for the marine renewable industry in Scotland.
"However, as there is little point in generating huge amounts of marine renewable energy on Scotland's islands if it cannot also be got to the mainland, we now need UK and Scottish ministers to find a way forward that enables us to harness the full potential of this clean energy source.
"Alongside energy saving measures, marine renewables will have a critical role to play in helping Scotland reduce climate emissions as we phase out polluting fossil fuels and nuclear power.
"With careful planning we can harness Scotland's huge wave and tidal energy to help cut our climate emissions, while safeguarding the nation's tremendous marine environment."