Scotland’s renewable-energy sector has invested more than £217million in wave and tidal projects to date, new figures show.
Industry body Scottish Renewables (SR) says its new study into the economic impact of wave and tidal-energy development north of the border – the first of its kind – also reveals investment worth £31.8million during the past year alone.
The findings are in a report, Marine Milestones, being launched at the SR Marine Conference in Inverness tomorrow.
Scotland is widely seen as a world leader in marine energy, meaning it should be ideally-placed to benefit from a global market forecast to be worth £50billion a year by 2050.
SR senior policy manager Lindsay Leask said: “Wave and tidal-energy is still very much the renewables new kid on the block but the opportunities it presents are enormous, particularly for Scotland.
“These investment figures, revealed for the first time by our Marine Milestones report, show the significant economic benefits this young sector is bringing.
“Crucially, those benefits are staying local and benefiting communities and families who are looking to renewables for a sustainable future, both economically and environmentally.”
She added: “Scotland already leads the world in the development of these audacious, innovative machines, and maintaining that position at the front of the global pack is something we believe is worthy of continued government support.”
A total of 17 organisations working in marine energy were surveyed for the Marine Milestones report.
They include Roving Eye, an Orkney-based operator of remotely-operated underwater vehicles and survey boats.
Owner Keith Bichan said: “Marine energy is a thrilling sector. We’re always doing something new and something probably no-one has ever had to do before, thinking outside the box and working on complex solutions with some of the most innovative engineers in Europe.
“We are involved throughout the life-cycle of wave and tidal energy devices, from surveying the seabed as part of the consenting process to monitoring the deployment of devices and maintenance and, finally, surveying cables annually for the full life of the projects.”
Mr Bichan added: “Wave and tidal have changed the vibe in Orkney.
“They have made people believe we can make a future for the islands as oil and gas reserves deplete.
“The thought that the eyes of the world are on what we are doing makes it all the more exciting.”
The SR Marine Conference, taking place at Eden Court, continues on Wednesday.
