LEADING Irish firm SSE Renewables has won a series of lucrative tidal energy contracts in north-east Scotland as part of a multi-billion euro project in a location described as "the Saudi Arabia of marine power".
As part of a major development plan, Britain’s state property management group The Crown Estate sought tenders for six wave and four tidal projects in an attempt to harness natural energy from the sea.
The projects, predicted to lead to a near €4 billion investment within the next decade, led to significant international interest from within the energy sector when they were announced.
However, despite the competition, SSE Renewables – previously Airtricity Development – won the right to operate four of the 10 projects.
The four 200mw contracts relate to an offshore wave site north of mainland Orkney, a tidal stream site west of Eday, Orkney, a near short wave site in partnership with Aquamarine west of mainland, Orkney, and a tidal stream site south of Hoy, Orkney.
"SSE Renewables is delighted by the award of exclusive rights to develop wave and tidal sites at four locations in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters," confirmed the firm’s chief executive Paul Dowling.
"We believe this commitment to marine renewables will not only deliver a significant contribution to the renewable energy mix and climate change targets, but also enhance Scotland and Britain’s position as world leaders in marine energy," he added.
In total, the 10 projects awarded by The Crown Estate are expected to generate enough power for 700,000 homes.
The other firms to have been awarded contracts include Perth, Scottish and Southern Energy, German firm E.ON AG, and a venture involving France’s EDF SA and Siemens AG.
"These waters have been described as the Saudi Arabia of marine power, and the wave and tidal projects unveiled today underline the rich natural resources of the waters of Scotland," the country’s First Minister Alex Salmond said.
According to the British Department of Energy and Climate Change, marine energy has the potential to power 15 million homes by 2050 – a move which could cut harmful carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 70 million tons.
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This appeared in the printed version of the Irish Examiner Wednesday, March 17, 2010
