Centuries old ICE puts EMEC among 200 world’s most influential

Marking its 200th anniversary, and in support of UK government’s Year of Engineering – The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) has added the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) to the list of the 200 inspirational and world-changing projects across the globe.

Nominated by the ICE’s members and selected by an expert panel, the chosen projects illustrate the breadth and depth of civil engineering’s impact, according to the leading marine energy testing center located in Scotland.

Established in 2003, EMEC supports the testing, demonstration and verification of wave and tidal energy devices, with 20 developers from 11 different countries having tested their cutting-edge renewable technology at the center.

“This activity has acted as a catalyst for economic growth in the region, encouraging local talent to take advantage of the jobs being created on their doorstep whilst also attracting people to move to the Orkney from across the world,” EMEC said.

There are numerous success stories coming from the center, including the world’s largest floating tidal test turbine, Scotrenewables’ SR1-2000, which has generated up to 7% of Orkney’s electricity needs on occasion.

Also, Orkney is now host to an experienced supply chain for the wave and tidal energy sectors, servicing local projects as well as exporting their knowledge and expertise globally.

Neil Kermode, Managing Director of EMEC, said: “As well as the fantastic achievements in device development and testing, we are also driving and supporting projects which are daily fostering innovation at our test center.”

The Carbon Trust estimate that 20% of the UK’s electricity could come from marine renewables; an industry in which the UK is in pole position and in which there are world-wide export opportunities worth billions.

ICE is a London-based independent professional association for civil engineers with over 92,000 UK and international members