Scotland backing tidal energy

The Scottish Executive has announced a £650,000 grant to build a tidal energy turbine demonstrator at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney. The ‘Neptune’ project, developed by Scottish and Southern Energy’s subsidiary Renewable Technology Ventures Ltd, will benefit from the cash injection.

The underwater renewable technology is seen as one of the most exciting new forms of clean energy generation, and is particularly suited to Scotland’s coastlines. The Executive has set an ambitious target of establishing 18% of electricity from renewable sources by 2010. It is hoped that the Neptune facility will be in place by the end of 2007, with testing throughout 2008.
"Scotland can be a marine energy powerhouse. Innovation is vital and I am delighted to announce this positive news for energy generation from our coastal waters - the first tidal project of its kind in Scotland,” said Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen. "The Neptune project is a massively important development for the growing Scottish marine renewables sector.”
The initiative is supported by the DTI and Highlands & Islands Enterprise, along with the Executive.