Marine Energy Park drives commercialisation

The pivotal role that the area already has in developing the global marine energy industry is recognised through the creation of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Energy Park and this status adds further impetus to the drive towards commercialisation of the industry.

The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Energy Park offers a coherent, supportive business environment designed to accelerate the commercialisation of wave and tidal stream technologies. Its focus is on the opportunities offered by the commercial leasing round in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters but its reach is

throughout the Highlands and Islands and the rest of Scotland, bringing leading academic knowledge and unrivalled industry experience to accelerate the development of the marine energy sector.

The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Energy Park already comprises essential elements of a world class marine energy location. Its impressive wave and tidal regimes are already harnessed by the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), the world’s leading test facility for full scale prototype marine energy devices. This asset alone has earned the location global recognition as a hub of excellence and

innovation, and led to unparalleled industry and academic experience in the marine energy sector.

The world’s first commercial scale wave and tidal leasing round in the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters, being delivered by The Crown Estate, further adds to this world class marine energy location, with eleven leases secured by major developers for up to 1.6GW capacity.

These key elements are supported by an experienced and knowledgeable supply chain, convenient access to major offshore fabrication facilities, essential deepwater port facilities and infrastructure, and a solid core of cutting edge academic research, teaching and skills development.

Significant investment is already committed to upgrading infrastructure throughout the Highlands and Islands with a view to supporting commercial scale offshore deployments and will support new and expanding supply chain opportunities in the marine energy sector.

The Marine Energy Park is also home to Enterprise areas and zones, including Hatston, Lyness, Scrabster, Arnish and Nigg, offering incentives for new renewable businesses to locate and invest in the area.

The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Leadership Forum is a public/private group, co-chaired by the Scottish Government and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and also comprises The Crown Estate, Marine Scotland, Highland Council, Orkney Islands Council, National Grid, Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Ltd, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Renewables and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC).

The Leadership Forum works with local stakeholder groups including the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership, The Energy of Orkney and with South West Marine Energy Park. By working together and along with the project developers, the Forum will create the supportive business environment within the Marine Energy Park to drive forward the commercialisation of the marine energy industry and secure the economic and social benefits.