A new tidal project launched on the Orkney Isles will bring together partners from across Europe to develop an integrated clean energy solution, the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has said.
According to EMEC, the more than £9.6 million Integrating Tidal Energy into the European Grid (ITEG) project will partner outfits from the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands in a bid to address carbon emissions in Northern Europe and the energy issues faced by remote islands, such as Orkney.
The project consortium includes EMEC, Scotrenewables Tidal Power, AREVA H2Gen, the Energy Systems Catapult, Energy Valley/New Energy Coalition, University of Caen Normandy, University of Le Havre Normandy, Ghent University and the Normandy Development Agency.
The project is funded by the Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) programme, part of the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), the project will deliver an onshore energy management system at EMEC’s Fall of Warness tidal test site, off the northern Orkney island of Eday.
The project will also support hydrogen production by using an AREVA H2Gen electrolyser, the first to be deployed in the UK, which will be powered by Scotrenewables’ next generation 2MW floating tidal energy converter, the SR2-2000.
EMEC confirmed that the project will support 20 direct and 40 indirect jobs throughout the lifespan of the project.
EMEC’s Commercial Director, Oliver Wragg said: “With ever-large amounts of variable renewable energy generation being added to the European grid, issues around energy system management are requiring an even more integrated approach.
“By combining world-leading technology developed in North West Europe with EMEC’s leading research infrastructure, we will demonstrate how predictable renewable tidal energy combined with hydrogen, can enable decarbonisation across the electricity, heat and transport sectors.
“By supporting the ITEG project Interreg NWE has shown great vision and leadership to ensure North West Europe plays a world-leading role in the transition to a 100% clean energy system.”
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