Oyster' device connects to Grid
First Minister Alex Salmond switched on the world's largest working hydro-electric wave energy device today, connecting Aquamarine Power's 'Oyster' device, off the Orkney Islands, to the National Grid.
Mr Salmond also announced new funding of £975,000 to help deliver 'Oyster 2', involving three linked devices with a total capacity of 2MW, by 2011. This is the largest Scottish Enterprise R&D grant ever awarded to a marine renewables project.
The Oyster, at Billia-Croo near Stromness, deploys a hinged flap fixed to the sea bed that uses the motion of waves to drive hydraulic pistons that pump high pressure water to an onshore hydro-electric turbine.
Mr Salmond said:
"I'm delighted to see first-hand the full-scale Oyster now installed and operating offshore. This is a key milestone for Aquamarine Power and for Scotland's marine renewables sector.
"Scotland's potential renewables capacity is estimated to be around 60GW. Our waters hold around 10 per cent of Europe's wave power potential and as much as a quarter of its tidal power potential. The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) provides world-leading test facilities for Aquamarine and other companies to develop the technology needed to harness this huge untapped potential.
"I am delighted to confirm further R&D funding of almost £1 million to Aquamarine Power for the development of Oyster 2, which could be installed within two years. Through our investments and initiatives such as the Saltire Prize, the Scottish Government is working to ensure we capitalise on our rich natural resources, to meet our ambitious climate change targets, to create more high-skilled green jobs and to make a substantial contribution to one of the most pressing global challenges."
Martin McAdam, Chief Executive Officer of Aquamarine Power, said:
"This is a fantastic day for the wave energy industry and for Aquamarine Power. We have proved what we always believed - that wave energy can produce sustainable zero-emission electricity to power our homes. The UK has one of the best wave resources in the world. Now it also has the best technology.
"The announcement of nearly £1 million Scottish Enterprise funding is very welcome and will enable us to attract further inward investment for the successful development of the next-generation commercial-scale Oyster. This is exactly the kind of support the industry needs. With continued support of this nature we can help decarbonise our electricity supply, and build a major, world-beating industry here in the UK."
EMEC Managing Director Neil Kermode added:
"EMEC are delighted to see Oyster installed, running and on test. It is a tribute to both the Aquamarine Power team for their work, and also to the vision of the public sector in setting EMEC up in the first place to help developers get into the water as efficiently as possible. I look forward to Oyster being joined by many more machines in the coming years."
Carole McCarthy, Senior Director of Innovation & Commercialisation at Scottish Enterprise, said:
"The Oyster is an excellent example of Scotland's world class technology and research expertise and capabilities in marine energy. The new R&D funding will enable Aquamarine Power to capitalise on the success of this launch and identify new commercial potential for their Oyster product, both within Scotland and overseas, helping to cement Scotland's position as a world leader in the development of renewable energy sources."
The Oyster has been developed by Edinburgh-based Aquamarine Power's marine energy researchers at Queen's University, Belfast. A farm of 20 Oysters would provide energy to power 9,000 three-bedroom homes.
The Scottish Government has previously provided £275,000 through the Wave & Tidal Energy Support Scheme (WATES) to support the development of the Oyster, as well as £500,000 to EMEC's on-shore works associated with the Aquamarine Power installation. Scottish Enterprise has now approved a Research & Development grant of £975,943 to enable the development of the next-generation Oyster 2, to be deployed as a 2 MW pod, involving three linked devices, in 2011.
EMEC, based in Stromness, Orkney, is the world's only accredited testing facility for wave and tidal energy devices. On Monday this week, the First Minister announced additional funding for EMEC of £2.5 million, comprising £1.45 million from the Scottish Government and £578,000, £400,000 and £187,000 respectively from Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise and Orkney Islands Council.
The £10 million Saltire Prize for advances in wave and tidal energy is one of the largest ever global innovation prizes.
Read more about the energy sector in Scotland here.