The Scottish Government has approved, and given its funding to, Europe's largest tidal energy project. The technology to be installed in Pentland Firth will generate electricity from ocean waves using turbines.
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said, "Today we have granted consent to MeyGen Limited to develop the largest tidal turbine array in Europe and the first commercial project off these shores. This is a major step forward for Scotland's marine renewable energy industry. When fully operational, the 86 megawatt array could generate enough electricity to power the equivalent of 42,000 homes – around 40% of homes in the Highlands. This is just the first phase for a site that could eventually yield up to 398 megawatts."
The Carbon Trust has estimated that wave and tidal resources could provide 20% of the UK's electricity if it is fully developed.
Whilst this is a major coup for Scotland's renewable energy sector, other engineers are also seeing the benefit of wave power.
A wave power generator that can generate energy no matter which way the sea is running has won the UK round of James Dyson's engineering award. Sam Etherington, the creator of the generator, could be awarded with £30,000 should he now win the international final of the award.
