Accreditation

The Wave test facilities at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney have been officially registered with the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).

UKAS accreditation - a world first - means that renewable energy developers can use EMEC's hi-tech facilities to gain an internationally recognised verification of the performance of their wave energy devices.

In 2007 Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen said:
"UKAS accreditation is a major boost, not just for the Marine Energy Centre, but for the whole of Scotland as we develop our position as an international centre of excellence in the development of marine energy.

"This is the first centre of its kind anywhere in the world to win this mark of quality and sends out a clear signal to the renewables industry that Scotland is the place to go for full testing and independent verification of wave energy equipment.

"The wave and tidal conditions in Orkney make it the perfect location to carry out this kind of rigorous testing.

"I am delighted to see real results coming from the Executive's £3 million investment and look forward to more good news in the future as Scotland strengthens its position as the renewable energy powerhouse of Europe."

Neil Kermode, EMEC's Managing Director, added:
"Our role is to show how much power the machines produce in a wide variety of sea and weather conditions - everything from a flat calm to a force 10 storm.

"This is vitally important information for developers. It means EMEC has a global role to play in the development of a new marine renewables industry with huge potential for the UK, for Scotland, and for Orkney”.