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Islay to be entirely powered by tides
ScottishPower is to build turbines in the Sound of Islay that will generate enough electricity for the island's 3,500 inhabitants – and its famous distilleries
ScottishPower is planning a tidal energy project that will supply all the electricity for one of Scotland's most famous islands. The company is close to signing a supply contract with Diageo, the drinks group, to provide electricity from the project to eight distilleries and maltings on Islay – including the makers of the renowned Laphroaig and Lagavulin whiskies.
The 10MW tidal project, one of the world's largest, will provide enough electricity for Islay's 3,500 inhabitants for 23 hours a day.
ScottishPower will submit a planning application in the next couple of months and
expects the ten 30-
The tidal waters in the Sound of Islay, the channel dividing Islay from the Jura, move at up to three metres a second.
Energy companies and representatives from the Scottish government have published a "marine energy road map" outlining how to reach the target of generating up to 2GW (2,000MW) of electricity from tidal and wave power by 2020. It calls for more grants and revenue support to enable developers to build commercial scale demonstration projects, such as the Islay installation, over the next two years.
The renewable energy industry admits the techniques to generate electricity from marine energy are in their infancy. Alan Mortimer, head of renewables at ScottishPower, admitted tidal energy is more expensive than offshore wind, which costs up to £3m for each megawatt built and itself is only barely economic. Tidal developers earn more subsidies under the Renewable Obligation Scheme than offshore wind, but only once schemes are operational.
Marine energy developers such as Martin Wright, managing director of start-
When the tidal project is built, the distilleries on the island will enjoy a much more secure electricity supply.
Source Guardian
A major tidal energy project is being planned for waters off the coast of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Scottish Power has identified the Pentland Firth, Sound of Islay and Antrim coast to test sea turbines which could power thousands of homes.
It comes as Scotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, visited the far north and the Crown Estate opened up the Pentland Firth seabed for leasing to developers.
Projects on the firth could be operational by 2020.
The sea off the Caithness and Sutherland coasts and around Orkney have been identified by the Crown Estate as having potential for generating energy.
Mr Salmond said the firth could be seen as "the Saudi Arabia of marine energy".
Scottish Power has been working on the Lanstrom device, which is said to be the world's most advanced tidal turbine.
The director of Scottish Power's renewable arm, Keith Anderson, said: "The rapid technological advancement of tidal power has enabled us to progress plans for this substantial project which has the real potential to deliver significant environmental and economic benefits."
Speaking during his visit to Caithness, Mr Salmond said opening the firth for energy generation on a commercial scale was "exciting news" for Scotland's renewables sector, environment and economy.
He said: "These developments are a significant step forward in Scotland's journey to become a world leader in the development of renewable energy."
Mr Salmond added: "Our seas alone could provide 25% of Europe's tidal power and 10% of wave power. The vast potential of the Pentland Firth will mean more investment, more jobs and more opportunities for the Caithness area."
Generating power from the sea could also be key to supporting the far north economy as jobs are reduced at Dounreay, a former nuclear power complex.
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Source BBC