News this week

On Monday August 18th we were very pleased to receive a visit from Jim Mather MSP Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism. The photograph shows, from left to right, Gareth Davies, Aquatera Environmental Consultancy and Chair of Orkney Renewable Energy Forum; Neil Kermode, Managing Director, EMEC; Jim Mather MSP; Stephen Hagan, Orkney Islands Council Convener; Graeme Harrison, Operations Manager, HIE (Orkney Office). The Minister came to EMEC after some very stimulating discussion, held with the community as a whole, about sustainable economic growth in Orkney. The opportunity to show the Minister the Wave Test Site also provided a platform for the detailed technical discussions about the opportunities and challenges marine energy in Scotland faces. The Minister also discussed the recently announced £10 million Saltire Prize and EMEC looks forward to playing it’s part in this exciting Scottish initiative.

We were also pleased to welcome another visitor to EMEC this last week. Lisa Vickers, US Consul in Edinburgh had an informative tour of EMEC and it’s facilities and was accompanied by Shona Croy, Orkney Islands Council’s Head of Economic Development.

Our Maintenance Technician, Roy Temple has deployed the second recalibrated wave rider buoy at the Billia Croo test site. It went out on 11th August from the boat ‘Uskmoor’ in the South of the test area.

Aquamarine Power Ltd have begun shore based works at Billia Croo preparatory to deploying their Oyster device in 2009. See separate news item for further information.

The new observation camera has been installed on the old coastguard lookout station at Black Craig overlooking Billia Croo. The work was done by Peter Barlow of Outersight in a project sponsored by NPower. The Research Team are looking forward to making the best use of this new resource.

There is a board meeting for Orkney Renewable Energy Forum on Thursday 21st August which will be attended by our Research Assistant, Matthew Finn.