Wave energy developer Aquamarine Power was honoured with a visit from HRH Princess Anne last week [14 October 2009].
Staff from Aquamarine Power and the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney welcomed the Princess Royal to the Billia Croo wave test site, where Aquamarine Power’s Oyster wave energy device has been successfully installed.
The Princess Royal was given a guided tour of the site and substation, while Aquamarine Power’s Chief Operating Officer Matthias Haag and Project Manager Frances Tierney explained the principles of the Oyster wave energy converter.
The royal visit recognised the importance of the marine renewables industry to Orkney, to Scotland and to the UK as a whole.
A keen sailor, the Princess Royal said she had witnessed first hand the vast wave and tidal resources in the UK.