A RENEWABLES technology in which Scotland leads the world will have to go elsewhere due to lack of “market support” in the UK.
That was the verdict of Scotrenewables just after announcing that its SR2000 tidal energy turbine had generated more electricity in its first year than Scotland’s entire wave and tidal sector produced before it.
The company’s chief executive Andrew Scott said: “The SR2000 has completed the job of demonstrating that we have a breakthrough technology and we will now be shifting all our focus and resources towards building on that success with a product which we are confident can enable a new industry created around a predictable renewable energy source.”
Commenting on UK Government policy, Scott added: “We are dismayed that there is a total lack of market support here in the UK for our technology, and we have no option but to focus our business on overseas opportunities.”
The SR2000 leads the world in its class, clocking up over 3GWh of renewable electricity in its first year of testing at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney.
The firm stated: “In 12 months of continuous operation, including during the worst winter storms in recent years, the pioneering SR2000 – the world’s most powerful operating tidal stream turbine – has supplied the equivalent annual electricity demand of around 830 UK households and at times has been supplying over 25 per cent of the electricity demand of the Orkney Islands.”
In May, a report from the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult said that the tidal stream industry could generate a net cumulative benefit to the UK of £1,4 billion, including considerable exports, and support 4000 jobs by 2030.
Hannah Smith, senior policy manager at trade body Scottish Renewables, said: “This milestone for the tidal energy industry truly demonstrates the untapped potential of this emerging sector.
“Scotland’s remarkable marine energy resource has placed us front and centre in developing this industry with global potential.
“Scotrenewables’ technology has generated more power in its first year than Scotland’s entire wave and tidal sector produced before it.
“This remarkable achievement paves the way for marine energy to become a mainstream part of Scotland’s energy mix while cutting carbon, and delivering jobs and investment to our remote communities.
“To keep driving progress it’s critical that both Scottish and UK governments recognise the potential of these technologies and work with industry to fully commercialise these innovations.”
Gina Hanrahan, acting head of policy at WWF Scotland said: “It’s great to see new tidal technologies now hitting new milestones.”
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