Energy companies ScottishPower Renewables and E.ON have today, Wednesday 3rd November, announced that they have joined forces to trial two Pelamis wave power machines off Orkney.
The first of the devices is currently being trialled at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, having been launched by E.ON in May.
The second machine, which will be built for ScottishPower Renewables, will be installed alongside the E.ON device next year. The two companies will use the information gathered from the trials to look at larger, more commercial schemes.
Amaan Lafayette Marine Energy Manager at E.ON, said: “If we’re to bring marine energy to the market then it’s absolutely vital that we take a collaborative approach to ensure this technology is able to fulfil its potential and contribute significantly to the UK’s renewable future.
“That’s why we’re delighted to be working with ScottishPower Renewables on this important project which will give us, and the industry, vital information about how best to use these technologies going forward.”
E.ON successfully won two 50MW tidal sites off the coast of Orkney as part of the Crown Estate’s recent Round 1 Marine leasing programme.
Alan Mortimer, Head of Policy at ScottishPower Renewables, said: “This project will play an important role in turning Scotland’s marine energy potential into a reality. Working in partnership with EON brings the major benefit of accumulated information from the performance and operation of two wave devices rather than one, whilst allowing PWP to optimise and refine their technology. This will advance the day when we are ready to proceed with our subsequent plans for large scale deployment such as our 66-device project at Marwick Head. The whole sector will benefit, and Scotland’s global lead in marine renewables will be further strengthened.”
Both of the machines installed at EMEC will be 750kW Pelamis P2 devices. The P2 is the first second generation wave energy device to be tested and will be 180m long, around 50m longer than the existing Pelamis. It is expected to be considerably more efficient than the first generation machine.”
Notes to editors:
An animation of the Pelamis device is available to download in broadcast quality by going to http://www.eon-uk.com/media/default.aspx and registering on the video gallery page.
E.ON is one of the UK’s leading power and gas companies – generating and distributing electricity, and retailing power and gas – and is part of the E.ON group, one of the world's largest investor-owned power and gas companies. We employ around 16,000 people in the UK and more than 90,000 worldwide;
E.ON’s retail business is a leading energy supplier in the UK with around 5.5 million electricity and gas customers, covering domestic, SME and industrial. E.ON also offers central heating and boiler care;
We’re one of the leading green generators in the UK, with 20 wind farms located from Cornwall to Northern Ireland. We own and operate one of the UK’s largest dedicated biomass power stations at Lockerbie. Combined, our renewable portfolio generates enough green energy to power the homes in a city the size of Manchester;
E.ON Climate & Renewables is responsible of for E.ON group’s renewable generation and Carbon Sourcing activities worldwide;
Our green development portfolio could power over a million homes and displace the emission of almost two million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year by building new onshore and offshore wind farms, biomass power stations, and tidal stream and wave power schemes;
Our target is to cut the carbon released by each kW of electricity we generate by 10% between 2005-2012,having already reduced it by 20% since 1990;
We have 1,500MW of renewable capacity under development.
ScottishPower Renewables is part of Iberdrola Renovables, the largest wind energy company in the world with an installed capacity of close to 11,000 MW at the end of 2009, and a pipeline of over 57,400 MW.
ScottishPower Renewables is the largest generator and developer of onshore wind power in the UK. The company had over 800 MW of installed capacity at the end of 2009, and a pipeline of 5,115 MW.
The Crown Estate recently awarded ScottishPower Renewables two major marine power development areas in the Pentland Firth. The company will develop a 95MW tidal power project at Ness of Duncansby and a 50MW wave power project at Marwick Head.
Recently, in partnership with Vattenfall, Scottish Power Renewables was awarded the rights to develop a major offshore windfarm off the coast of East Anglia by the Crown Estate, which has the potential to produce up to 7.2GW of electricity. The company is currently developing its first offshore windfarm, with a two-thirds stake in the 500MW West of Duddon Sands project, as well as holding the development rights to a site west of Argyll and the island of Tiree that has the potential to generate anywhere between 500MW to 1800MW of electricity