Press release: EMEC scoops two top industry awards

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Ltd has been recognised for its innovative infrastructure and economic impact at regional and national level at two prestigious award ceremonies held last week.

The ICE (Institution of Civil Engineers) President’s Award for Energy Infrastructure was presented to EMEC at the British Construction Industry Awards in London on Wednesday, October 10.

This new award recognises excellence in a chosen theme which this year ICE President Richard Coackley set as the generation, storage and delivery of energy.

The Centre was commended for its unrivalled test site facilities based in Orkney which enable 14 full-scale marine energy technologies to test simultaneously in some of the harshest wave and tidal conditions, as well as providing test sites situated in less challenging real sea conditions for smaller scale device testing.

Established in 2003, EMEC is still the only accredited, grid-connected, wave and tidal test centre for marine renewable energy in the world, and to date has successfully supported the deployment of more grid-connected marine energy devices than at any other single site in the world, having attracted developers from across the globe.

Commenting on the success, Neil Kermode, managing director of EMEC said: “This is excellent recognition for EMEC’s work and we are privileged to win an award of such calibre.

“We have faced many obstacles along the way – not least simply installing the infrastructure in the first place to enable our clients to hook up to the grid. But we have found ways to overcome these challenges, and this has allowed us to provide valuable feedback to the industry on how to install and operate safely in some of the harshest sea states on the planet.”

The judges were impressed by the successful partnerships that were established within this project and commented that it really is an international example of true knowledge leadership.

EMEC also scooped the accolade of Best Renewable Energy (Offshore) at the Energy North Awards in Inverness on Friday, October 12, for its role in the development of the burgeoning marine renewables industry in the Highland and Islands of Scotland.

Mr Kermode, added: “With the influx of developers coming to test their devices at EMEC, the marine renewable industry in Orkney is rapidly advancing.

“An extensive local supply chain is developing with around 250 people working in the sector in Orkney alone. The local authority is making significant investments in improving the port infrastructure across the Islands, and we are witnessing external private investment as well – for instance one developer has set up their manufacturing base in Stromness.

“Great vision was shown by those who supported the creation of EMEC and that has been rewarded with a steady stream of developers using the facilities to prove the commercial potential of their technologies. As a result, EMEC is now financially self-sufficient.”

With the 14 full-scale test berths now contracted, and demand continuing to rise, EMEC is currently exploring the possibility of expanding its pioneering test facilities, and is in the process of consulting with industry stakeholders and authorities.

Due to its unrivalled knowledge and experience in setting up and operating the world’s first and only wave and tidal test centre, EMEC is establishing key strategic alliances across the globe through provision of consultancy services, and is working closely with various countries including Japan, China, South Korea, the USA and Canada.