About us
Our vision:
Pioneer the transition to a clean energy future
Our mission:
As an innovation catalyst, EMEC reduces the time, cost and risk
of integrating ocean energy and associated low carbon technologies
into the future energy system.
A not-for-profit innovation catalyst
pioneering the transition to a clean energy future.
Established in 2003, the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Ltd is the world’s first and leading facility for demonstrating and testing wave and tidal energy converters – technologies that generate electricity by harnessing the power of waves and tidal streams – in the sea.
EMEC provides purpose-built, open-sea testing facilities for prototype technologies, subsystems and components. We operate two grid-connected test sites – the Fall of Warness tidal test site and Billia Croo wave test site – where larger prototypes are put through their paces in harsh wave and tidal regimes, as well as two scale test sites where smaller scale devices, or those at an earlier stage in their development, can gain real sea experience in less challenging conditions.
Attracting developers from around the globe, EMEC’s facilities help to prove what is achievable in some of the harshest marine environments while in close proximity to sheltered waters and harbours.
To date, more ocean energy converters have tested at EMEC than at any other site in the world.
EMEC is the world’s only recognised ISO/IEC 17025 test laboratory for ocean energy, operating to relevant test laboratory standards to provide independently-verified performance assessments. EMEC is at the forefront in the development of international standards for marine energy and is forging alliances with other countries, exporting our knowledge around the world to stimulate the development of a global marine renewables industry.
Building on our experience in developing the ocean energy sector, EMEC is exploring options for developing a national floating offshore wind test site to the west of Orkney. The site aims to offer floating wind developers representative metocean conditions to those in ScotWind, Celtic Seas and future leasing rounds. EMEC also runs the Offshore Wind R&I Programme to help the supply chain develop novel solutions for critical technical challenges.
EMEC is driving innovation in the integration of renewables with complementary energy vectors and alternative offtake industries. Our goal is to accelerate the commercialisation of offshore energy and demonstrate new solutions for decarbonising power, heat and transport. Our onshore and offshore facilities provide a test platform for first-of-a-kind and pilot scale demonstrations such as green hydrogen, battery storage, e-fuels, refuelling technologies, and subsea data centres.
Based in Orkney, we operate within an inspiring energy ecosystem with a rich history of innovation. This unique island environment has encouraged us to explore new opportunities to cut emissions and enhance resilience in the communities closest to our operations. A cornerstone of this work is the Islands Centre for Net Zero (ICNZ), a flagship initiative led by EMEC, with Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides collaborating to become lighthouse communities in the energy transition.
EMEC was set up to kick start an ocean energy sector in the UK and boost economic development in the Highlands and Islands. Over the years EMEC has grown and diversified, and unprecedented activity that has taken place in Orkney due to the presence of EMEC has been a catalyst for economic development, creating jobs and a world-leading supply chain now exporting skills and knowledge around the globe. An economic impact assessment calculated EMEC added £370 million GVA to the UK economy between 2003 and 2023.
EMEC was named Blue Economy Enterprise of the Year at the Scottish Highlands and Islands Rural Economy Awards 2021, Champion of Renewables at the Scottish Green Energy Awards 2021 and won the Outstanding Service Award at the Scottish Green Energy Awards 2023.
