Wave energy company Aquamarine Power has recently visited the Western Isles to explore the potential for installing a small demonstration wave power project off the west coast of Lewis.
Representatives of the Edinburgh-based company came to Stornoway to attend the inception meeting of the Outer Hebrides Renewables Group [Friday July 23], chaired by Council Leader Angus Campbell, which met to discuss issues affecting the renewable energy industry such as grid infrastructure and transmission charging. The meeting was also attended by representatives from Scottish Natural Heritage and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Aquamarine Power also met with local MSP Dr Alasdair Allan while they were in Lewis to ask for advice about how to find the best location for a demonstration site.
The company now plans to make contact with as many local stakeholders as possible to take advice on the most suitable locations for a potential site to install a test array of up to ten wave power devices in the next five years.
“It has been great to visit Lewis to understand some of the issues facing the renewable energy industry here on the island. We are now keen to speak to as many local people as possible to help us identify potential areas for testing a small demonstration array of our Oyster wave power devices,” explains Dr Sian George, head of Aquamarine Power’s commercial development team.
"The Isle of Lewis has some of the best wave resource in the world. We think the marine renewables industry offers terrific potential for the island but at this early stage it is essential that we work closely with local communities and key stakeholders to ensure the sustainable and responsible development of any proposed Oyster project.
“In the next few weeks we will be commencing some preliminary boat survey work to compare the seabed at different points along the coast, and this will help inform our discussions with the Lewis community,” Dr George adds.
Aquamarine Power has offices in Edinburgh and Orkney. The company successfully installed its Oyster 1 wave device at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney last summer and plans to deploy its next-generation Oyster 2 in Orkney next year.
Aquamarine Power worked with over 30 local firms and spent over £1.5m in the Orkney economy during the installation of its first Oyster device and continues to source much of the goods and services it requires from within Orkney as the company progresses with the development of its Oyster 2 device.