News this week

Jennifer Norris our Research & Consents Manager attended the Natural Environment Research Council meeting on February 26 preceded by a Supergen meeting on February 25 in Edinburgh. On March 10 she attended the MESPG research sub group at the Scottish Government in Edinburgh.

John Lawrence our Hydrodynamicist attended the MCA Hydrography seminar in Southampton in February.

Neil Kermode, Managing Director attended the newly reconvened FREDS group. This is a Scottish Government group comprising developers, utility companies, grid companies, EMEC, and Scottish Government. They are looking at how to deliver 1GW of marine energy.

Photo shows the new observers beginning observations at the Black Craig this week. This project protocol has been developed by SMRU and the ‘Big Eyes’ are on loan from them. The project is funded by nPower and SNH.

On February 25 EMEC welcomed E.ON and Pelamis Wave Power to Stromness to discuss the forthcoming project. March 4 saw two visits, the first by Phil Gilmour and Mike Neilson of the Scottish Government MESPG. They were accompanied to the Wave and Tidal Sites by Jennifer Norris and found the visits interesting and informative. On the same day the Crown Estate comprising Duncan Mackay, Project Manager Wave & Tidal; Martin Simpson who has overall responsibility for wave and tidal projects; and Tim Norman, Environmental Manager were taken up the Black Craig by Edwina Cook. On March 5, Anne Bevan, Lecturer at Edinburgh School of Art visited to discuss possible student visits. On March 12 a representative of Vattenfall visited EMEC to discuss research.

Finally, we welcome Chris Casely to the EMEC team. He has joined us as Engineering Technician in the Operations Team and we look forward to working with him in the busy months ahead.