• What we do
  • How we do it
  • Guiding the industry
  • The challenge
 

What we do

EMEC is at the forefront of the development of marine-based renewable energy – technologies that generate electricity by harnessing the power of waves and tidal streams.

As the first centre of its kind to be created anywhere in the world, we offer developers the opportunity to test full scale grid connected prototype devices in unrivalled wave and tidal conditions.

Beyond device testing, EMEC also provides:
  • Assistance for other testing centres
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  • Off site performance assessment
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  • Research & Development project involvement
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  • Consultancy support
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    For more detail on the service EMEC provides, please click here.
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    How we do it

    EMEC provides the worlds only multi-berth, purpose-built, open sea test facilities for wave and tidal marine energy converters.

    Our operations are spread over three sites:
    • Wave energy convertor test site at Billia Croo, Mainland Orkney
    • Tidal energy convertor test site at the Fall of Warness off the island of Eday
    • Office and data facilities in Stromness
    At each test site there are subsea cables which run from each test berth at sea to a substation onshore where they meet the UK national grid. EMEC also gathers weather, wave and tidal data from each site.

    EMEC has facilitated world firsts for marine energy, with pioneering

    devices now being tested at both sites.

    To view the full description of our facilities click here.

    To view what is currently being tested on site click here
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    Guiding the industry

    EMEC takes an active role in the development of the marine renewable industry. We recently coordinated the development of a suite of standards, which are freely available to download click here.

    EMEC also plays a key role in facilitating the consenting process. This requires developers to consider environmental issues prior to testing at EMEC, and to mitigate against any potential for negative impact.

    We also utilise our strong links with developers, academia and regulatory bodies to take a lead role in the research and development field. A wide range of projects ranging from hydrodynamic modelling to wildlife observations are contributing to industry learning.


    For a summary of the specific research projects underway at EMEC click here.
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    The challenge

    The current European target is to source 20% of the Europe's energy from renewable sources by 2020. There are many challenges to be overcome before wave and tidal power can make a significant contribution towards these targets and reach large-scale commercialisation, but the rewards will be great.

    EMEC has identified a number of different forms of marine energy convertor:
    • Wave Devices – 7 main types
    • Wave Developers – 100 different technologies
    • Tidal Devices - 5 main types
    • Tidal Developers - over 50 different technologies
    For an overview of these technologies, click here.
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