Nova Innovation wins seabed lease in Shetland

23 February 2022


Nova Innovation has announced it is planning to develop it’s largest tidal energy array to date at Yell Sound in Shetland after winning an Option Agreement from Crown Estate Scotland.

Nova is planning to build a 15MW tidal array at Yell Sound, between the islands of Yell and Bigga, that is predicted to meet over a third of household electricity demand in Shetland. This new tidal energy site will build on the success of the world’s first offshore tidal array that Nova created in neighbouring Bluemull Sound in 2016. 

“Having been at the centre of the oil and gas industry for 50 years, Shetland is now at the forefront of the green energy revolution, and we are excited to play our part in decarbonising the Shetland Islands,” commented Simon Forrest, CEO of Nova Innovation. “Building on Shetland’s success with the world’s first offshore tidal array in Bluemull Sound, we are delighted to be working with local partners to deliver another world-leading project.”

Nova’s tidal turbines sit on the seabed, so there is no visual impact on the land and seascapes of Shetland, with ships free to pass above them. Comprehensive environmental monitoring of Nova’s turbines in Bluemull Sound have demonstrated that they work in harmony with marine wildlife. The new turbines for use in Yell Sound will be manufactured at Nova’s facility in Edinburgh.

“This agreement between Nova Innovation and Crown Estate Scotland marks another important milestone in commercialising tidal energy in Scotland, putting Shetland at the heart of this exciting technology and its capability to deliver secure and reliable clean energy to support our climate targets,” said Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy “With our abundant natural resources and expertise, Scotland is ideally placed to harness the global market for marine energy whilst helping deliver a net-zero economy both here and across the world.”



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