European Marine Energy Centre opened
(Story dated: Tuesday, August 10, 2004)

The world's first marine energy test centre was officially opened in Stromness today.

Scotland's Deputy First Minister, Jim Wallace MSP, carried out the official opening of the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) today - a facility to allow full-scale, long-term testing of grid-connected wave energy conversion devices against a continuously measured offshore wave and weather regime.

Speaking at the opening, Mr Wallace said: "Today is a massive landmark for the marine energy sector in Scotland. I am delighted and honoured to mark the occasion by opening EMEC.

"The ongoing success of this Centre will be pivotal to the growth of the marine energy sector both in Scotland and throughout the world. A number of developers have already expressed a firm interest in testing their devices here, and many others will be closely monitoring the Centre's progress.

"We have a unique and exciting opportunity for Scotland to grab the lead in developing marine energy. EMEC is a vital step along the way to ensuring we take full advantage of this opportunity and the benefits it will bring.

"Harnessing the power of the sea will help us to meet our renewables targets, create new jobs and help protect our environment by reducing emissions and tackling climate change."

EMEC itself is centred around two main sites in Orkney. There is a small, partially underground building at Billia Croo - where Mr Wallace unveiled a plaque earlier today - which houses switchgear and other control equipment along with the grid connection to the UK electricity grid.

From here, cables are run underground and along the seabed to four offshore testing berths, marked by buoys. In addition there are two waverider buoys continuously measuring the sea-state. A meteorological station and CCTV cameras, installed at a disused coastguard lookout station nearby, allow for observation at all times.

EMEC offices and data centre are situated in the Old Academy in Stromness.

The centre, which was initially conceived in 1999, is now fully operational and has secured its first client - Ocean Power Delivery (OPD), designers of Pelamis, the "sea snake" wave energy converter

EMEC has been established at a cost of approximately £5 million, funded by the Scottish Executive, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Orkney Enterprise, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Carbon Trust, Scottish Enterprise and Orkney Islands Council (OIC).