News this week

This week EMEC was visited by Professor David Sugden, Professor Alan Werritty and Dr Marc Rands of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. The Royal Society is currently undertaking an Inquiry into the opportunities and problems associated with a move to a low-carbon economy in Scotland.

The Inquiry Committee having heard a lot about the achievements in Orkney and were keen to visit and learn about the initiatives being taken there. After a trip to Westray, Eileen Linklater and Neil Kermode presented EMEC’s work and progress in contributing to a post-carbon economy.

Other recent visitors include representatives from the Tokyo Electric Power Company, Islay Energy Trust, and Mary Scanlon MSP also visited EMEC prior to holding a surgery in Stromness.

With a busy few months ahead at both test sites, the first signs of new marine works appeared this week when the Jack Up barge “Beatrice” arrived in Kirkwall in preparation for doing work on EMEC’s tidal test site for Voith Hydro Ocean Current Technologies. Next to arrive this week will be Global Marine’s Cable Ship Sovereign, which will be laying new cables for EMEC at both test sites.