World first for community tidal scheme
21 May 2014 04:16 PM
First electricity generated from seabed
turbine.
The
world's first community-owned tidal power turbine in Scotland has started
exporting electricity to the local grid, Energy Minister Fergus Ewing revealed
today.
The
turbine will power up to 30 homes, a locally owned ice plant and Cullivoe
Harbour Industrial Estate on North Yell, Shetland.
The
turbine sits on the seabed at a depth of over 100ft and consists of a propeller
that is spun by the power of the tide as it flows past. The rotating propeller
drives a generator that produces electricity, which is transmitted onshore via
a 1km subsea cable.
The
project, developed by Leith-based tidal energy company Nova Innovation in
partnership with North Yell Development Council, has been funded by the
Scottish Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES),
Shetland Islands Council and North Yell Development Council.
In
Aberdeen, attending the All-Energy Conference, Mr Ewing said:
“For the first time, anywhere in the world, a
community owned tidal turbine is generating electricity. It will have a
positive impact on the North Yell community and economy.
“Scotland is recognised as world leader in wave
and tidal energy, with a quarter of Europe's tidal stream and a tenth of
its wave-energy potential.
“We must tackle climate change and reduce our
reliance on fossil fuels through better and more efficient uses of energy. That
is why Scotland generated a record amount of electricity from green energy
sources last year.”
Robert Henderson, Shetland Islands Council Cllr and
Chairman of North Yell Development Council, said:
“This is a tremendous moment for North Yell. For
the first time anywhere in the world, electricity is being generated from a
community owned tidal turbine.
“Having used as much local expertise as possible
we're keen to see Shetland taking a leading role in marine
renewables."
Simon Forrest, Managing Director of Nova Innovation,
said:
“We are delighted to announce that the Nova 30
tidal turbine has been successfully deployed and is generating electricity to
the grid. It marks a major achievement for the wider Scottish tidal industry
with over 80 per cent of Nova’s supply chain Scottish
based.
“By working in close partnership with the North
Yell community and our suppliers, we believe that this project demonstrates the
growing confidence in the marine sector and strengthens Nova Innovation’s
leading position in the emerging global marine energy
industry.”
Seonaid Vass, director of renewables & low carbon
technologies at Scottish Enterprise, which has worked closely with Nova to help
it realise its growth ambitions said:
“With more wave and tidal devices being tested in
our waters than anywhere else in the world, Scotland is recognised as a global
leader in the marine energy sector.
“The successful deployment of this device is an
important step in the development of technologies in the tidal industry, and we
look forward to continuing to work with the company to supports its growth
plans.”
Notes To
Editors
For
further information about the turbine, please call Simon Forrest at Nova
Innovation on 0131 554 2242 or 07870 164445. Email simon.forrest@novainnovation.com orhttp://www.novainnovation.co.uk/
The
project is 100 per cent owned by the North Yell Development Council (NYDC) a
company limited by guarantee and a charity.
In
2010, the project received £167,763 development funding from the Scottish
Government’s Community and Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) supported by
Community Energy Scotland, £16,990 from the Shetland Islands Council and
£1,200 from the NYDCs own funds.