The developers awarded the rights to develop marine energy projects in the world’s first wave and tidal energy leasing process say that their proposed plants could power up to three-quarters of a million homes.
SSE Renewables Developments. E.On, Pelamis Wave Power and Marine Current Turbines are among the companies that have been named by the UK’s Crown Estate as the successful bidders for the ten sites around the coast of Scotland. Their proposed projects include 600 MW of wave energy and 600 MW of tidal energy and should be completed by 2020.
The developers – which also include Aquamarine Power, Scottish Power Renewables and OpenHydro Site Development – have signed agreements for the lease of the sites with the Crown Estate and will now take the development of their projects forward to the consenting stage. The move marks a major step forward in the UK and Scotland’s bid to become a major global centre for marine energy.
“Leading international energy companies and innovators continue to be drawn to Scottish waters, which boast as much as a quarter of Europe’s tidal and offshore wind resource and a tenth of the continent’s potential wave capacity,” said Scotland’s first Minister Alex Salmond. “Together with some 11 GW of planned offshore wind developments, these latest marine renewables projects show that Scotland is powering ahead in the development and deployment of clean, green energy.”
The Crown Estate says that it considered bids from 20 companies for 42 sites, and selected “those companies demonstrating the clearest ability and pedigree to make best use of these sites in a responsible manner”.
Six sites have been selected for Wave projects and four for tidal. SSE Renewables and Scottish Power Renewables are spearheading the largest of the schemes.
SSE Renewables has been selected for the 200 MW Costa Head Wave Scheme and will also develop the 200 MW Brough Head site in conjunction with Aquamarine Power. It has also been selected for two 200 MW tidal schemes: Westray South, and Cantick Head, which it will develop with OpenHydro.
Scottish Power Renewables will develop the 50 MW Marwick Head wave project and a 100 MW tidal scheme at Ness of Duncansby.
E.On is developing two 50 MW wave schemes. Pelamis Wave Power will build a wave power scheme in the Pentland Firth capable of generating 50 MW, while Marine Current Turbines will develop the 100 MW Brough Ness tidal site.
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