News this week

This week saw the first on-site installation of our test support buoy at the scale tidal test facility in Shapinsay Sound. The buoy has been deployed in support of a scale tidal developer. It is a self-contained unit that provides load banks, a communications package and both AC and DC UPS systems. Device information and performance can be monitored remotely by signals and CCTV video stream being transmitted across a wireless communications link to EMEC and the developer. The buoy was successfully deployed on behalf of EMEC by Leask Marine.

Eileen Linklater was in Copenhagen earlier this week attending the ‘Marine Renewable Energy at Futures Edge’ workshop at the IT University of Copenhagen. This was a one day workshop aiming to share knowledge and explore potential collaboration between Orkney and Denmark. The workshop explored the different future visions of the marine industry in Denmark and Orkney, and the role of the public and local communities in the future of marine renewable energy. Eileen gave a presentation on “EMEC: A World Leader in Marine Renewables” and participated in a discussion on future initiatives and collaboration between the two sites.

On Wednesday, Jenny Norris and Matthew Finn attended the Developers Research Forum in Edinburgh which was well attended.

Visitors this week included members from the European Investment Bank who met with Neil on Monday who were keen to visit EMEC and hear about the issues facing the sector.

Photographer Chris Steele-Perkins also visited on Monday to capture a shot to represent EMEC for the Hard Rain Project. The project highlights global environmental challenges, and the solutions which are aiming to combat these problems. The project will be launched at Kew Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, and then embark on an international tour culminating at the Rio Earth Summit in 2012. For more information visit www.hardrainproject.com.