The centre, which started off with just four wave test berths at Billia Croo, on the west coast of the Orkney mainland, has expanded considerably over the past decade. Now it operates six grid connected wave test berths at Billia Croo, and eight tidal test berths at the Fall of Warness, off the island of Eday. Two smaller-scale wave and tidal test sites are also available for device, technique and component testing in less challenging sea conditions.

All of EMEC’s test berths are currently contracted out to marine energy developers as the industry moves closer to its goal of full scale commercialisation of wave and tidal technologies.

Crucially, EMEC’s presence has sparked the growth of an entirely new industry in Orkney, with increasing numbers of local businesses now diversifying into the marine renewables sector. Recent figures show that marine energy supports around 250 jobs in the islands, with EMEC’s clients injecting approximately £1m per device into the local economy. Staffing at EMEC has almost doubled during the past three years, with the centre now employing over 20 people in Orkney.

Instrumental in the creation of international standards for wave and tidal testing, EMEC’s knowledge and expertise in the marine energy field continues to be sought around the world. Staff from the Stromness headquartered facility are assisting with the development of marine energy centres in Canada, USA, Japan, China, Taiwan and South Korea, with several other nations seeking EMEC’s advice on testing.

It was in 2001 that a House of Commons Select Science and Technology Committee recommended a test centre should be created to help develop a marine energy industry in the UK. Orkney was chosen as the site for the centre because of the power of the waves and tidal currents around the islands, its sheltered harbours and its connection to the national grid.

EMEC was set up in 2003, with over £30 million of public funding invested to date from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish and UK governments, Orkney Islands Council, the European Union and the Carbon Trust. The centre remains independent and is now self-financing.

The Billia Croo test site was opened in 2004 and later that year the Pelamis 750 became the first floating wave energy device in the world to generate electricity to the national grid. Two years later EMEC opened its tidal test site at the Fall of Warness and, in 2008, Open Hydro’s 250Kw turbine became the first tidal energy converter to generate electricity to the UK grid. The wave and tidal test sites were expanded in 2010, with EMEC’s smaller scale test facilities opened the following year.

EMEC’s technical director John Griffiths has been with the centre since day one. A chemical engineer with extensive oil and gas experience, he led a team of experts which drew up a report on marine energy for the Department of Trade and Industry back in 1999 and first mooted the idea of an independent test centre for wave and tidal devices. He later went on to assist Highlands and Islands Enterprise with studies aimed at identifying the best location for the new centre and subsequently found himself helping turn visionary plan into reality.

“We effectively started out with a blank sheet of paper and had to make it up as we went along,” says John, reflecting on EMEC’s early days. “Nobody had ever created a facility for testing wave and tidal devices before. Equally, developers back then were taking a step into what was unknown engineering territory, trying to design technologies to function in the most hostile of environments.

“It was all done on a shoestring and none of us realised the enormity of what we were doing, least of all the developers. Every time we came across a problem we’d sit down and think about how we were going to deal with it. We got lots of things wrong and, in the early days, we relied heavily on the very few leading companies around who were all struggling themselves, limping along between grants. We spent a lot of time lobbying to persuade people this was an industry that needed to be supported. It was all very pioneering and, at times, very iffy!”

John adds: “I just stand amazed when I look at what’s been achieved to date as creating a test centre was a complete step of faith. Nowadays, I’m never afraid to say I work for EMEC because everybody smiles. It’s liked and it’s valued and I think it’s brought a lot to Orkney.”

In addition to a burgeoning local supply chain, increasing numbers of graduates are also finding opportunities in Orkney’s marine energy sector, with EMEC’s data technician Adele Lidderdale amongst them. The 27-year-old from Kirkwall gained a BSc (Hons) in Sustainable Rural Development from the University of the Highlands and Islands, with the course delivered locally by Orkney College.

“Marine renewables is a fresh and exciting industry that’s creating a real buzz around Orkney and I knew it was something I wanted to be involved in when deciding what and where to study,” says Adele, who joined EMEC in May 2012. “Being able to undertake my course at home in Orkney, at the heart of the marine renewables industry, was essential as it introduced me to people already working in the sector and gave me the chance to develop a better understanding of wave and tidal technologies.”

Adele is now responsible for the quality control of a number of data streams from EMEC’s test sites. She creates reports from the data gathered, providing developers with information that’s vital for their testing programmes.

“Marine renewables is proving to be everything I hoped it would be,” adds Adele. “It’s varied and challenging and I enjoy that sense of being involved with a pioneering industry trying to help solve the world’s energy problems.”

EMEC will be celebrating its tenth anniversary at this month’s All Energy conference in Aberdeen, with the centre’s managing director Neil Kermode addressing delegates attending the event’s special wave and tidal sessions. EMEC’s clients will also give updates on the technologies currently undergoing testing in Orkney in the newly created Wave and Tidal Seminar.

And plans are being developed for a Test Centre Symposium event which will see wave and tidal test facility providers from around the world gather in Orkney later this year to see first hand the flagship marine energy development work being done in the islands. The symposium will give representatives the chance to discuss common challenges for test sites and identify opportunities for collaboration, export and further sharing of knowledge via a global network of leading marine energy clusters.

EMEC has already launched and distributed a new general information leaflet explaining its work and highlighting the importance of Orkney’s part in the development of the global marine renewables industry. Educational resources for local schools are also being created to generate interest in marine renewables amongst younger people and help develop the future supply chain.

The centre, which has had a special new 10th anniversary logo designed, will also be erecting commemorative landmarks at its test sites and assisting with the development of a marine renewables exhibition in Stromness.

“From the outset we made it our aim to respond and adapt to the needs of the emerging wave and tidal industry, while also endeavouring to create globally recognised standards and structures for testing,” says EMEC’s managing director Neil Kermode. “We’ve grown as the industry has grown and everyone at EMEC is immensely proud to have played a part in making Orkney the world centre for marine energy development that it is today. More marine energy activity is now taking place in Orkney than at any other location in the world, with a significant support chain industry developing in the islands. But none of what’s been achieved so far would have been possible without the support of the Orkney community and the commitment of the public and private sector.

“A decade is a significant milestone to have passed, but the marine energy industry is still in its infancy, with many challenges – including the thorny issue of grid connection and transmission charging – to overcome before full-scale wave and tidal arrays become a commercially viable reality.

“The technology works, of that there is no question, but developers and investors now need to increase the reliability and work out how large arrays of multiple machines can be built, installed and operated, safely, efficiently and cost-effectively. One of our roles at EMEC over the next few years will be to provide help to developers negotiating the difficult path towards commercial deployment and we anticipate this input will become even greater as major array deployment along the world’s coastlines becomes a reality.”

Mr Kermode added: “It gives us enormous pleasure to be able to share our anniversary celebrations with industry colleagues and the local community and we look forward to helping protect and strengthen Orkney’s role as marine energy’s elder statesman over the next decade, and beyond.”

New Wave and Tidal Seminar Theatre

For the first time this year All-Energy have introduced a new theatre within the Orkney and HIE pavilion focusing on wave and tidal energy technologies.

At 1245 on both days of the conference EMEC clients will be providing quick fire updates on the wave and tidal technologies they are testing at EMEC. Come along to hear the latest from:

• Aquamarine Power
• Pelamis Wave Power
• Seatricity
• Wello Oy
• Alstom (TGL)
• Bluewater Energy Services
• Kawasaki
• Scotrenewables Tidal Power
• Voith Hydro
• Nautricity

Each company will provide a short 5 minute presentation on their progress. A full programme is also now available for the wave and tidal seminar theatre.
 

Visit us at Stand K91

EMEC is exhibiting in the Orkney Pavilion, so drop by stand K91 to learn about our 10 years of marine energy experience.

All-Energy is free to attend: Register here. For further details on the event, visit: All-Energy 2013.

We look forward to seeing you there.

We will be exhibiting and speaking at All-Energy 2013, taking place on 22^nd and 23^rd May 2013 at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.

Visit us at Stand K91

This year marks EMEC’s 10^th birthday so please come along to our stand at K91 in the Orkney Pavilion to help us celebrate all the great achievements that have been made at our sites, and throughout the industry, over the last decade.

If you would like to make an appointment with a member of staff, please contact us through the website.

Conference Programme

John Griffiths, our Technical & Compliance Director is chairing the Wave & Tidal 6 plenary at 1330-1500 on Thursday 23^rd May, with our Managing Director, Neil Kermode, providing an update on 10 years of EMEC alongside a couple of our clients.

New Wave and Tidal Seminar Theatre

This year All-Energy have introduced a new theatre to provide updates specifically on the marine renewable energy industry – a fantastic addition to All-Energy’s offering. Better still the new Seminar Theatre will be positioned within the Orkney and HIE pavilion – please come along and check it out.

Many of our clients will be providing quick fire updates on the technologies they are testing at EMEC. These updates will take place at 1245 on both days of the conference. Further information on these sessions will be announced next week – watch this space!

Register

All-Energy is free to attend: Register here. For further details on the event, visit: All-Energy 2013.

We look forward to seeing you there.

But the enormity of what I was being asked to do came home to roost in the intervening weeks when the arrangements were being discussed and the issue of the plaque came up. I hadn’t really thought that bit through. Suddenly the fact that my name was being carved in stone hit me. That is normally reserved for when we die, so to have it happen when alive is significant. These people are serious! And this is an important event. This is the completion of a significant investment by the community in their future and it is a moment that needs to be marked. Permanently.

But I really shouldn’t have been that surprised because that is how Orkney is. They really are serious about their future, just as they always seem to have been. Some 200 years ago the good burghers of Kirkwall wrote to the pre-eminent Engineer of the day Thomas Telford and asked him to design them a harbour. Their first. This he duly did and in 1811 it was opened. Before then the lack of a harbour meant that the maximum size of vessels was severely limited by what could be dragged up the beach or taken through narrow channels behind a sand bar. This in turn limited the scale of trade from the islands.

So a harbour for trade was seen as a good investment, public support garnered, and the contract duly signed for £4691 with one George Burn who had just finished Pultneytown at Wick. At the time trade was pretty general, but the coming of a harbour allowed one industry after another to flourish. Probably the most remarkable example was the egg industry which in 1878 was at such a peak that 178,000 dozen eggs were exported from the county. That is over 2 million eggs in a year!

I am sure Telford didn’t anticipate the egg industry, but here is an example of the effect of building infrastructure at the right time and place and allowing remarkable things to happen.

And that is what tends to happen here. As we stood on the Hatston Pier extension on Tuesday we could see that the existing pier, planned around 2000 and completed in

2003 to accommodate bigger ferries of the time was now being heavily used for an unplanned use. 2 generations of tidal turbines by Alstom were being prepared for installation next to the assembled crowd. No one believed that there would be such things as tidal turbines, so no one thought to build a pier for them.

But scroll backwards to about 3 years ago and the council’s Marine Services Department realised that there was indeed a new opportunity opening up. The servicing of the coming marine renewables industry.

Careful and systematic planning by officers and councillors led to decisions to refurbish the ex Navy pier on the island of Hoy, extend Hatston and build a new pier at Stromness. This 3 Ports Strategy has resulted in enormous change from some of the make-do-and-mend conditions that were endured when marine renewables first came to Orkney. But the need was identified and now Orkney boasts good facilities, including the longest deep water commercial pier in Scotland.

With several vessels along side the pier at the opening it showed something of the trade that is planned to be attracted to this new asset.

And of course there will be many other uses in addition to the renewables traffic already booked in. Cruise liners are queuing up to bring tourists to see the ancient sites and the oil industry planning to work in the new West of Shetland fields are already looking around.

So as the flag slipped off the plaque and the crowd dutifully clapped I felt a real lump in my throat at the great honour I was being paid by Orkney. The honour of marking their progress to a sustainable, prosperous future.

A ceremony has taken place to mark the opening of a pier in Orkney that will serve as a major base for the marine renewable energy industry.

At 385 meters – almost a quarter of a mile – the newly extended Hatston Pier is now Scotland’s longest commercial deep-water berth.

The 160-metre extension to the existing 225-metre pier was officially opened by Neil Kermode, Managing Director of the Orkney-based European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC).

Orkney Islands Council’s £8 million project, which attracted £3.2 million in support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), has resulted in a major support and logistics base for marine energy developers.

Hatston Pier, on the outskirts of Kirkwall, is strategically located for EMEC’s test site off the island of Eday, where a number of tidal energy devices are undergoing trials.

Council Convener, Councillor Steven Heddle, said: “The pier, and all the developers and businesses who use it, will be part of the success story of marine renewables in Orkney, and contribute to our islands’ ongoing prosperity.

“That is our hope, and our expectation, and that is why the Council has chosen to invest in the future here.”

The extension to Hatston marks the completion of the second phase in the Council’s Three Port Strategy to support the development of wave and tidal energy generation in the islands.

A former wartime naval base at Lyness already has a new lease of life as a multi-purpose logistics base for the wave and tidal energy sectors, while a new 100 metre Pier at Copland’s Dock in Stromness is currently under construction.

Councillor Heddle added: “Our aim is to ensure that world leading research and testing activity at EMEC leads on to the world leading commercialisation of a new industry.

“With Orkney at its hub, this will secure economic benefit and employment for our islands for many years to come.

“This is an ambitious goal, and since initial development of the strategy in 2009 there has been investment of more than £20 million in marine renewable energy infrastructure projects by the Council and its funding partners, the European Regional Development Fund and the Scottish Government.”

Mr Kermode said: “Orkney enthusiastically welcomed the first developers of tidal turbines and has seen at first-hand how hard they all work and what they need.

“Orkney has rolled up its sleeves to do everything it can to help them succeed and Hatston Pier is the biggest manifestation to date of this can-do attitude. I can’t think of a clearer signal to the burgeoning wave and tidal industry that Orkney is open for business.”

As well as supporting the marine renewable energy sector, Hatston Pier will also serve as a berth for a variety of vessels, including ferries, cruise ships and those serving the offshore oil and gas industries.

The Director General of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) visited Orkney last week, witnessing first-hand the leading role Orkney is playing in the development of marine renewable energy. Nick Baveystock, along with his colleague Sara Thiam, Regional Director of ICE Scotland, and Chris Young, Policy Manager – Scotland, visited various renewables and engineering projects across the county, including the new pier extension at Hatston pier, the new pier at Copland’s Dock in Stromness, and the new Kirkwall Grammar School as well as being provided a tour of the EMEC wave test site at Billia Croo and Hammars Hill wind energy project in Evie.

Neil Kermode, Managing Director of EMEC, accompanied Mr Baveystock on his tour, ensuring that he got up close to some of the innovative wave and tidal energy devices that are currently testing in Orkney.

“The importance of marine technology to Scotland’s economy has been demonstrated by the investment to date in Orkney.”

Commenting on the visit, Nick had this to say:

“We were delighted to have the opportunity to tour EMEC’s facilities last week, and to see at first hand the pioneering steps being taken on Orkney to lay the foundations for the UK’s energy future.

“It was really impressive to see the wide range of imaginative renewable energy projects underway on the islands – including the wave test site at Billia Croo – and to get up close to some of the innovative wave and tidal energy projects that have the potential to play a major role in shaping the UK’s future energy mix.

“The imagination and preparation, planning and development in anticipation of further economic investment – as we witnessed during our visits to the new harbour projects at Hatston and Stromness – only strengthens the desire among Orcadians to be at the forefront of future advancements in the field.

“The Institution recognises that wave and tidal power offer great potential for the United Kingdom.  But at the same time, we also understand that these technologies will require greater investment – particularly in research and development – and adequate connections to the National Grid, in order to make a significant contribution to the UK’s future energy requirements and our ambitious carbon reduction targets.

“the role of civil engineers will be central to realising that investment.”

“The importance of marine technology to Scotland’s economy has been demonstrated by the investment to date in Orkney and the role of civil engineers will be central to realising that investment.”

ICE is the body responsible for providing chartered status to civil engineers. It has over 80,000 members worldwide and is a leading voice in the infrastructure debate as well as providing expert advice to government. Its 8000 Scottish Members design, build, maintain and improve Scottish transport, energy, water and waste infrastructure.

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), based in Stromness, was established in 2003 to provide developers of wave and tidal energy devices with the world’s first purpose built test facility.

EMEC is offering a summer placement with a focus on market research within the marine energy industry.  The successful applicant will be responsible for researching and updating details of international markets for marine renewables technology developers and testing facilities, resulting in improved resources for marketing EMEC services worldwide.

As part of the TalentScotland Summer Placement Programme, the candidate will benefit from support from a team within Highlands and Islands Enterprise and also access a two day residential training course focussed on employability and business skills.

This position is part funded by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the European Regional Development Fund.

The post will be based in Orkney and is a 12 week fixed term contract.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 7 May 2013 with interviews planned for Thursday 16 May 2013.

For further information and details on how to apply go to:

http://bit.ly/ZFGERc

EMEC staff and families were ‘shown the ropes’ of the new climbing wall at The Pickaquoy Centre on Saturday thanks to Orkney Climbing Club. Whilst perhaps a little daunting at first for those who hadn’t climbed before, it was a great afternoon learning climbing techniques and how to belay safely with everyone pushing themselves to improve.

Many thanks to Ian, Linda, and Donna from Orkney Climbing Club for their excellent instruction, and to EMEC’s Adele and Danielle for organising the activity.

Every year, Environmental Concern Orkney organises ‘Bag the Bruck’: an Orkney-wide event which sees over 600 local volunteers clean up around 100 sites across the county.

As has become tradition, staff from EMEC and Aquamarine Power, along with friends and family, descended to Billia Croo on Saturday, where EMEC’s wave test site is situated. Whilst relatively clean, we still managed to collect 32 bags of ‘bruck’ from the beach and surrounding area. Unfortunately we could not remove all the rubbish that we found, with some lengths of rope stuck under massive – immovable – boulders yet again demonstrating the sheer power of the sea at the test site.

Many thanks to those who came along to help out. Hope you enjoy the photos below.

“The Marine Energy Boss”

Neil Kermode, 53, has been the Managing Director of The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), Orkney, Scotland, since November 2005. He lives with his wife in Orkney.

What inspired you to work in renewable energy?

I was at school in the early 1970s during the first oil crisis, and I remember doing my homework by candlelight and the ‘Save It’ campaign on TV because we were always having power cuts. Later I went with my local Friends of the Earth group to visit the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales; I came back and built a wind turbine on the roof of my parents’ garage.

I just think it’s critical that we have a sustainable energy system that is affordable and works well and makes use of our abundant natural resources.

Why did you take the top job at EMEC?

While I was working for the Environment Agency in Dorset I went on holiday to Orkney. That’s when I realised the huge potential for marine energy in the islands, and saw with my own eyes the passion and determination of the people to make renewable energy work. I wanted to set up a tidal energy scheme. A few years later EMEC was growing and they asked me to take on the role of MD.

What does EMEC do?

EMEC is the world’s only testing laboratory for tidal and wave machines. Right now we’ve got 14 customers developing and installing machines – there’s more going on here than anywhere else; we’ve been a world leader since 2003. Cables stretching out into the sea enable devices to deliver power into our substations and onward into the national grid. There is the potential to produce 10MW/hr in the next few years – that’s about a third of Orkney’s peak demand.

How important is renewable energy in Orkney?

Hugely important. 100% of Orkney’s electricity frequently comes from renewable sources of energy – wind mainly.

Right now from my office window I can see the Flotta oil terminal, 3 offshore wind turbines, a barge going past constructing a new pier for the marine renewables industry, and parts of a wave machine being assembled. Orkney has invested some £40 million in its renewable future along with outside investment and it is working hard to bring this new industry about.

Times are changing.

What does your typical day look like?

I’m in touch with people all around the world by phone and email, and meeting visitors, politicans and investors who want to know how they can get involved or help. As a test centre we have clients from all over the globe bringing their machines to Orkney. That takes a lot of organisation. In addition there are numerous challenges to overcome – from dealing with stakeholders to securing funding.

What do Orkney islanders make of the developments?

People wonder how things will fit into the local society and scenery, but there hasn’t been much opposition. Everyone knows that renewable energy presents employment opportunities. Out of a population of about 20,000, around 250 work in marine renewables; there’s public interest in making it work. Naturally there’s a formal consultation process, but I probably learn just as much bumping into people in the Co-op or the main street whilst shopping. We are all locals – it’s not like we’re a company coming in from abroad.

What are the barriers to UK marine energy?

We’re only early on in the development process. Other technologies are more advanced because they’ve had a lot of money thrown at them and have been at it longer – now we need funding for marine renewables and time.

I just think Britain has a choice. Either we develop a sustainable, exportable technology base that the rest of the world can use, or we sit back and let someone else develop it and then moan because we have to keep importing energy and buying expensive foreign gas.

How important is a clean power target?

Targets are vital. It’s up to politicians to enable the construction of the zero carbon economy we need, and we are seeing a lot of important support for renewables.

Continuous and determined signals from the Scottish government are particularly clear and include the Saltire Prize – a pot of money developers can compete for to accelerate the commercial development of clean marine energy. These signals have helped build confidence that is leading to investment by utilities and manufacturing companies.

What’s the best thing about your job?

Helping people who didn’t understand the potential of marine renewables to really get it. People who are born disinterested or agnostic about renewables come here to visit and they see it makes sense. You see the lights suddenly go on in their eyes. Politicians, financiers, civil servants and investors… it’s the biggest single buzz, and it happens routinely.

At the end of the day we have to decarbonise anyway – once we’ve burnt everything we can lay hands on we’ll still need energy; we just have to learn to harvest it, not mine it.

Source: Friends of the Earth