The Scottish government has given the green light to the installation of two Oyster devices at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) on the island of Orkney to create a 2.4MW wave energy demonstration project.
The project is a critical part of Aquamarine power’s plans to develop a 200MW wave energy site in Orkney and a 40MW site on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.
The company has praised the Scottish Government for its leadership in the renewable energy field.
“Consents are vital,” said Aquamarine Power in a statement. “A clear pathway to all the necessary permits for marine energy development is one of the critical enablers for a business such as ours, and countries which lack a transparent and timely system will fall behind.”
Aquamarine Power installed its first Oyster 800 device in Orkney in September 2011. The consent means that it can now install a further two devices to create the UK’s first grid-connected nearshore wave power array.
Last year Aquamarine Power became the first firm to secure bank debt finance for a UK marine energy project by agreeing a £3.4M loan with Barclays Corporate for the Orkney demonstration project.
