News this week

Another busy week here at EMEC…

Norwegian renewable energy company Flumill AS have announced this week that preparations are under way to install its first commercial tidal system at EMEC’s nursery tidal test site in the Shapinsay Sound. The device contains no moving parts and is designed to harvest power from the natural flow of water. It will be fully assembled at Hatston pier over the next few weeks before being towed to the EMEC test side. Currie Brothers will be fabricating the steel foundations for the device, Heddle Construction will provide onshore crane support, while Leask Marine Services will support the installation of the device. Tony Trayner, President of Flumill, said that the partnership with the local community is an integral part of a successful future.

EMEC attended the Scottish Renewables Conference and Exhibition at Eden Court in Inverness earlier this week. Speakers at the conference included both project and technology developers, Scottish Government, regulators, and finance and market experts, with EMEC’s Neil Kermode chairing the Speed Technology Update. Fergus Ewing, the Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, gave the key note speech, emphasising the necessity of getting devices in the water for testing. He highlighted the vital work that was being done at EMEC, stating that EMEC’s achievements and experience are unrivalled anywhere else in the world gaining us international recognition. He believes that Scotland remains the best place in the world to install and invest in wave & tidal energy. He announced that a short life working group will be set up to review the main challenges surrounding the development of the marine renewables industry.

Neil also spoke at the British Ports Association Conference held at the Pickaquoy Centre on Thursday, delivering a presentation on “Renewables, new technology, new opportunities”. That evening, Stuart Baird, hosted the Rotary Club on a trip to Billia Croo.

Alex Marshall, Senior Writer for The ENDS Report (www.endsreport.com) – a UK magazine for environmental policy and business – interviewed Neil on Thursday in preparation for a feature on the state of wave and tidal power in the UK which will be published in the October issue.

And today, Masayuki Yasuhara, Musicologist from the Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music, and Yoshihisa Nakano, Artist from the Art Unit at Yamaguchi University, Japan, visited EMEC to learn more about the marine renewables industry in Orkney.