Wave & tidal power | A leap of faith
As the European Marine Energy Centre celebrates it 20th anniversary, legislative campaigns in the US are helping to pave the way for more tidal power development there
Below: A recent economic impact assessment has valued the contribution of EMEC’s operations over the past 20 years
SCOTLAND’S EUROPEAN MARINE ENERGY Centre (EMEC) in Orkney recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. The centre, headquartered in Stromness, remains the world’s first and only accredited grid- connected open sea facility for testing wave and tidal energy conversion technologies. Most notably, more marine energy technologies have been trialled here to date than at any other location across the globe. Over the years, Orkney has witnessed a number of notable UK and world firsts on the EMEC test sites, including delivery of the first power to grid from an offshore wave energy device, and the first production of green hydrogen from tidal energy. The centre has even hosted trials of a novel underwater datacentre on behalf of Microsoft. A recent economic impact assessment spanning two decades of EMEC’s operations has valued the impact of the test centre to the UK economy at £370 million, with £130 million of that accrued in Orkney. The centre now employs around 85 members of staff, has developed a highly skilled local supply chain, while collaborative research and development activity has forged many international partnerships. “Setting up EMEC in 2003 was seen by many as a leap of faith into the unchartered waters of marine energy, but everyone involved in bringing the project to fruition was well aware of the enormous potential that wave and tidal research held for the Highlands and Islands, and for the country as a whole,” said Graeme Harrison, Area Manager at Highlands and Islands Enterprise. “Since then, Orkney has been at the epicentre of developments within marine renewables, with the islands playing host to many notable firsts along the way. There have been challenges too, which is only to be expected when undertaking pioneering work of this nature. But throughout it all, EMEC has continued to adapt and evolve, always staying one step ahead of industry demands and responding to new opportunities, ensuring Orkney’s reputation as
a low carbon centre of excellence is maintained and strengthened.” Neil Kermode, Managing Director at EMEC, said: “It’s thanks to government foresight to create an ocean energy test centre that we have unrivalled activity around UK shores today. We’re seeing ship building being revitalised, with Dundee seeing the first vessel launch – in the form of Orbital’s O2 – since ship building stopped over 40 years ago. We’re seeing the supply chain gear up with new equipment and we are seeing new jobs created daily. The development of a locally-grown renewables industry also strengthens the UK’s energy security and is triggering investment in peripheral areas supporting the levelling up agenda.” “EMEC’s a brilliant case study to demonstrate the value of developing marine renewables and pursuing a clean energy transition,” Kermode added, saying that it was a microcosm of what can be accrued on a far larger scale” if we wholeheartedly push on developing industries that will help solve the climate crisis”. In other news Kermode, who has been has been Managing Director of EMEC since 2005, was awarded an OBE for his services to renewable energy and to the community in Orkney. Kermode said he was surprised and stunned but delighted by news of the award, and hopes it will help bring more attention to so many of the things and people he cares about. “I would not be getting this award if I had not been
able to work with such great and motivated groups of people over the years in so many spheres. Together we have achieved things that none of us could have done alone,” he commented. “In this respect it is a real joy to see the progress we have made together. But it is also both daunting to see how much we have to do, and exciting to see the opportunities it presents.”
TIGER project The Tidal Stream Industry Energiser Project (TIGER)
was launched in 2019 to drive tidal energy growth
44 | September 2023 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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