Boost for wave & tidal industry

MeyGen Limited, a competitor in the Scottish Government’s Saltire Prize, has been given the go ahead to install the tidal array in stages, beginning with a nine megawatt demonstration project of up to six turbines.

Ahead of the Scottish Renewables Marine Conference, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: "Today, we have granted consent to MeyGen Limited to develop the largest tidal turbine array in Europe and the first commercial project off these shores.

"This is a major step forward for Scotland’s marine renewable energy industry. When fully operational, the 86 megawatt array could generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 42,000 homes – around 40 per cent of homes in the Highlands.

"This exciting development in the waters around Orkney is just the first phase for a site that could eventually yield up 398 megawatts.”