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Brankin announces support for power from the oceans
22/07/2001
Scotland could soon become a world leader in marine energy production following the announcement of Scottish Executive support for a test centre on Orkney.
Deputy Environment Minister Rhona Brankin today announced that Orkney has been selected as the best site for the Scottish Marine Energy Test Centre. The centre could result in Scotland taking the lead in exploiting energy from the seas around its coasts.
The Scottish Executive along with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) will provide the £400,000 needed to fund phase two of the project. This phase will involve a full-scale site survey including an environmental impact assessment into the selected site at Stromness.
Rhona Brankin said:
"Scotland is rich in renewable energy sources and this site in Stromness has been recognised as amongst the best in Europe. We must take advantage of this situation and strive to ensure that Scotland becomes a world leader in energy production from marine sources.
"Marine energy could contribute significantly to Scotland's energy needs over the coming decades. To ensure we tap into this potential all the technology must be fully proven in what is a very harsh environment.
"Scotland has several world leading companies working to develop marine energy systems and they need a test centre where they can evaluate this technology.
"The selection of Orkney as the site for the test centre does not exclude other areas of rural Scotland from benefiting from marine energy as it develops. The consultants' report for HIE indicated clearly that the Western Isles possesses a great deal of the overall marine energy resource available to Scotland. I expect the area to benefit as this technology is put into production in coming years.
"The Western Isles makes a very good location for onshore wind energy development and I know that two wind energy projects under our Scottish Renewables Obligation are being taken forward there.
"In a further initiative the Executive's Scottish Energy Efficiency Office is developing a pilot project to promote alternative vehicle fuels by capitalising on the existing LPG infrastructure in the Western Isles. We also hope to pilot the use of electric vehicles in the area linked to renewable energy sources."
BACKGROUND
1. Highlands and Islands Enterprise commissioned a study to consider potential locations for a Marine Energy Test Centre in the Highlands and Islands. The study was undertaken by a member of the UK Marine Foresight Panel and by METOC, a firm of maritime engineers. The objective of the study was to identify a preferred location for a Marine Energy Test Centre (METC).
2. The METOC report evaluated the suitability of four sites at:
Portnahaven, Islay
Crosskirk, Caithness
Baghasdal, South Uist
Eoropaidh, Lewis.
Data for each site was compared against 16 criteria and concluded that the preferred site was Stromness on Orkney. Stromness was considered to provide advantages over the other three sites in terms of the available resource (wave power and tidal currents), a shorter distance offshore to exploit these resources, the availability of onshore facilities (offices, storage and berthing), suitable connection to power lines and sheltered water for construction.
3. HIE will now conduct a full scale site survey and environmental impact assessment. It is hoped to have the test centre operational next year.
4. The Scottish Energy Efficiency Office, part of the Scottish Executive, is seeking to develop a pilot project to promote alternative vehicle fuels by capitalising on the existing LPG infrastructure in the Western Isles. The aim is to sell the LPG on the island as near to mainland prices as possible. The Executive believes that this type of project could act as a model for other Scottish Islands. As well as promoting use of the fuel among private motorists the Executive will promote its use in the public sector such as encouraging Western Isles Council to take the lead in converting their own fleet.
5. The Scottish Energy Efficiency Office also hopes to pilot the use of electric vehicles linked to renewable energy sources on the Western Isles and Islay subject to the participation of the relevant authorities.
News Release: SE1770/2001
22 Jul 2001