Nova Innovation awards marine renewables contract to Steel Engineering
Making this announcement, Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond MSP said: “Scotland is leading the way in the development of marine renewables, and today’s announcement that the world’s first community-owned turbine is to be manufactured and deployed on these shores is a truly fantastic endorsement of our burgeoning renewable sector.”
“The turbine being developed by Nova Innovation – based in Leith – and manufactured by Steel Engineering – based in Renfrew – will be used to power businesses in a remote community in Shetland, showing the very tangible benefits that marine renewable power can bring to Scotland’s businesses and people in the years to come.”
Leith-based Nova Innovation has awarded the contract to fabricate its first tidal turbine for the community-owned scheme to Steel Engineering based on the Clyde. Nova Innovation plans to launch the device later this year, with full commissioning set for early 2013, making it the world’s first community-owned tidal scheme.
The Nova-30 (30kW) device will be deployed in the Bluemull Sound in Shetland, with the Crown Estate sea-bed lease and planning permission already secured. The 30kW demonstrator device will be grid connected, power a local ice-plant and industrial estate and provide income for the community, helping to re-generate the local economy.
Simon Forrest, Director of Nova Innovation, said: “Nova Innovation is delighted to announce this important milestone which will help accelerate the growth of our business and significantly advance marine energy in Scotland. Steel Engineering is rapidly building a strong reputation as a leading manufacturer of renewable products and we are confident in the company’s ability to fulfil this contract to an excellent standard. We see significant potential for tidal arrays for other communities across Scotland and look forward to working with Steel Engineering on this and future marine renewable projects.”
Peter Breslin, Managing Director of Steel Engineering, added: “We are delighted to win this ground-breaking renewable contract and look forward to a long-term working partnership with Nova. This contract will help to put Steel Engineering on the map as a major renewable manufacturer and will also help to safeguard and create Scottish jobs at our facility in Renfrew.”
This initial project is owned by the progressive North Yell community in Shetland, working in partnership with Nova Innovation and Community Energy Scotland and supported by Shetland Islands Council. Scottish Enterprise has worked closely with Nova Innovation, helping them accelerate development and enabling rapid job growth within this exciting and innovative Scottish company.
Kevin Norris, Nova Innovation's account manager at Scottish Enterprise, said, "Since 2010, we've provided integrated, tailored business growth support to Nova Innovation, working intensively with the company through our account management approach. We have supported the company to increase its research and development activity and also to develop its overseas trading operations. During this time, we've seen this highly innovative company grow and we’ll continue to support them to achieve their ambitious growth plans.”
The project builds on two years of hard work and co-operation between the parties, with plans already well advanced for the Shetland Tidal Array at the same site to follow shortly after in 2013/14, creating further highly skilled jobs and propelling Nova Innovation to the forefront of international marine energy development.