Press release: Energy Secretary visits Orkney
Edward Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change visited Orkney this week [October, Tuesday 9th and Wednesday 10th].
During the course of his two day trip, the Lib-Dem Minister saw Scotrenewables Tidal Power Ltd’s SR250 floating tidal turbine, prior to meeting with representatives from the European Marine Energy Centre and Orkney Islands Council.
The Minister travelled to Lyness marine renewables port to view the wave energy converters based there, and witness the investment that has gone into the ports infrastructure in order to support the marine renewables sector in Orkney. Accompanied by Aquamarine Power, and Pelamis Wave Power, he also visited the EMEC wave test site at Billia Croo outside Stromness to see the ScottishPower Renewables Pelamis P2 in action.
Edward Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said:
“It was great to see first-hand the fabulous work being done on the range of wave and tidal devices here at EMEC, a cutting edge Scottish firm.
“The centre is a huge asset to the development of wave and tidal energy in the UK and has helped secure UK leadership in the global market.
“The UK has the largest wave and tidal resource in Europe, which could produce 20 per cent of current UK electricity demand and cut carbon emissions.”
Max Carcas, EMEC External Liaison Officer, said:
“Wave and tidal energy offers huge potential for the UK to meet the ‘triple bottom line’ of energy security, environmental benefit and economic growth.
“This is a great opportunity for the Secretary of State to see up close the great strides in marine renewables that are being made here in Orkney. With more marine energy devices having been deployed and tested here than at any other single site in the world, an extensive local supply chain is developing with significant investments being made in infrastructure, equipment and over 200 people employed.
“With the recent announcement of marine energy park status for the region the opportunity exists to build on this achievement and underpin the next phase of investment.”
Steven Heddle, Convener Orkney Islands Council said:
“We are looking forward to showing the Minister the massive investment the council has made in ports and infrastructure and in particular welcome the opportunity to discuss with him: our current grid capacity constraints, the opportunities arising from marine renewables within the newly established Marine Energy Park as well as the urgent need to seek a solution to island transmission charges”.
Link:
Ed Davey acts on Scottish energy issues (Department of Energy and Climate Change website)
