A £20million fund aimed at developing marine energy technology in UK waters has been hailed as great opportunity for the north of Scotland.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change said yesterday the Marine Energy Array Demonstrator (Mead) scheme was part of plans to develop marine power’s role in the UK energy mix. It said the money would go to two pre-commercial wave or tidal projects, and Scottish firms have been urged to put themselves forward.
Johanna Yates, offshore policy manager at Scottish Renewables, said Scotland’s role in marine power development meant it was in a good position to take advantage of the scheme, adding: “We already have devices in the water generating electricity, but this funding will give companies a much-needed boost in the next crucial step of deploying their first arrays.
“If a Scottish project is successful in winning the multimillion-pound funding, it could also mean more manufacturing opportunities for the north-east too.”
Elaine Hanton, head of energy at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: “Our region is home to the European Marine Energy Centre (Emec), where pioneering wave and tidal energy devices are being tested, so to see this support being made available for the next stage of testing is hugely important.”
Emec managing director Neil Kermode said: “I have no doubt that some of the developers who have come and tested at our facility in Orkney will feature strongly in the list of eventual recipients of the support.”
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