ScottishPower investigates possible sites for 60MW tidal project
Monday 29 September 2008
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| The Lànstrøm device, which has been put through rigorous and extensive testing over four years in Norway, is now being tested in Scotland with a view to deployment there |
ScottishPower Renewables has announced it is investigating three sites in Scotland and Northern Ireland for potential deployment of its 1MW flagship tidal stream device "Lànstrøm".
The proposed installations, which have the combined potential to generate 60MW of energy, are being hailed as the largest tidal stream project in the world by its developers, following a four year testing regime in Norway.
At present, two of the sites are being planned in Scotland, in the Pentland Firth and the Sound of Islay, with the third off the North Antrim coast in Northern Ireland.
Each site is being evaluated with a view to installing between five and 20 Lànstrøm turbines. With each turbine having an installed capacity of 1MW, this could lead to a combined output of 60MW, which is enough energy to power 40,000 homes.
ScottishPower Renewables is expected to submit planning applications to the Scottish Government and Northern Irish Assembly in summer 2009.
Furthermore, the company claims that if permission is granted, the projects could be operational by 2011.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond welcomed the announcement, saying: "While any applications will of course be considered carefully on their merits, this is a very exciting development and underlines the momentum that is beginning to build within the marine renewables sector.
Unrivalled
"Scotland has a marine energy resource which is unrivalled in Europe - we have an estimated 25% of Europe's tidal resource, and 10% of its wave potential." he continued
The Pentland Firth alone contains enough tidal energy to meet a third of Scotland's power requirements
Lànstrøm, which is currently being testing in Scotland after its successful tests in Norway, has been developed by Hammerfest Strøm AS, a company jointly owned by ScottishPower Renewables, StatoilHydro and Hammerfest Energi. To date, ScottishPower Renewables has invested in excess of £1m in the company, and is represented on the board.
Keith Anderson, director of ScottishPower Renewables, said: "This is a historic day for the development of marine energy. The rapid technological advancement of tidal power has enabled us to progress plans for this substantial project which has the real potential to deliver significant environmental and economic benefits.
"The Pentland Firth alone contains enough tidal energy to meet a third of Scotland's power requirements."
Support
A new company, Hammerfest Strøm UK, has also been created to manufacture the device in Scotland, and manage any export opportunities.
Einar A. Naess, chairman of Hammerfest Strøm, said: "Scotland benefits from the support of the Scottish Government who have identified the tremendous industrial possibilities in the coming tidal power industry. The Scottish Government also works with the industry to develop sufficient incentives both to maximise job creation possibilities and to meet the targets for renewable energy production."
ScottishPower Renewables, owned by the Iberdrola Group, plans to have a renewable generating capacity of 2012. The Iberdrola Group has independently committed to investing 1.2 billion EUR in the development of renewables in the UK between 2008 and 2010.
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