Isra-Mart srl:Next wave of Scottish marine energy projects on the horizon

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Isra-mart srl news:

Scotland's burgeoning marine energy industry received a dual boost yesterday as Aquamarine Power awarded a £4m contract to construct its next-generation Oyster device, and Marine Current Turbines (MCT) declared its intention to install the UK's first tidal energy farm by 2013.

Bristol-based MCT confirmed that it has earmarked Kyle Rhea, a strait of water between the Isle of Skye and the Scottish mainland, as the location for Scotland's first tidal energy farm.

It added that it is investigating the feasibility of a 5MW tidal farm and believes four of its Seagen units could be in place by 2013.

However, the company must raise an estimated £35m to fund the project, as well as securing a lease from The Crown Estate and planning approval from Marine Scotland, an arm of the Scottish government.

MCT said its technical and environmental work to date has confirmed the suitability of the site, while local consultations have also proved favourable. Subject to further studies being carried out and further consultations, MCT aims to submit a planning application towards the end of next year.

"Engagement with local interests is an important part of our work and so far the response to our plans has been generally positive," said David Ainsworth, MCT's project manager for Kyle Rhea. "Next year, we will hold a public exhibition in Glenelg before our planning application is finalised to give local people the opportunity to find out more about the project and the benefits that it will bring."

Since February 2008, MCT has partnered RWE npower renewables to develop a 10MW tidal farm in waters off Anglesey, north Wales, and the company is also taking forward plans to develop a giant array of up to 100MW off the Antrim coast in Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, Aquamarine Power announced its Oyster 2 device will be built by Burntisland Fabrications Ltd (BiFab) over the next six months at its plant on the Firth of Forth, prior to testing at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney next summer.

The company said the new device is set to generate 250 per cent more power than the original Oyster, which was successfully deployed at EMEC last year, and should be simpler to install and maintain.

The news follows hot on the heels of an £11m investment in Aquamarine by power company ABB and existing shareholders Scottish and Southern Energy. The project has also received grants from the Carbon Trust and Scottish Enterprise.

John Robertson, BiFab's managing director, said the deal underlined the ability of the renewables sector to create new jobs. "This is a good opportunity for UK manufacturing and supply industries and an opportunity not to be missed," he said.