Marine energy wins big at Scottish Green Energy Awards

Scottish marine energy technology and project developers, and supporting supply chain companies, have received multiple acknowledgments at the annual Scottish Green energy Awards.

The region’s first winner in the Best Innovation category was Orkney-based Orbital Marine Power – formerly Scotrenewables Tidal Power – for testing of the world’s most powerful operating tidal turbine, the 2MW SR2000.

Operated at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) test site from April 2017 to September 2018, the pioneering SR2000 supplied the equivalent annual electricity demand of 830 UK households, and at times was supplying over 25% of the electricity demand of Orkney.

Joining them on what Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) deemed ‘undoubtedly highly successful evening for the marine energy industry’ was Nova Innovation, which won the Outstanding Project Award for their tidal array in Bluemull Sound, Shetland.

This pioneering undertaking is a collaborative project led by a Scottish innovator that uses the Scottish supply chain and creates Scottish jobs while demonstrating the commercial viability of tidal energy for the benefit of the global industry.

Other winners from the marine energy sector include another Orkney company, Leask Marine, which won the Outstanding Service Award.

Leask Marine has performed supply chain activities for an array of international marine renewable wave and tidal developers, and are considered as one of the world’s most experienced and leading marine contractors in the marine energy sector.

Another winner from the Highlands and Islands was the Fair Isle Electricity Company which took home the Judges’ Award for the impact that has been created in the tiny island community through the deployment of a low carbon energy system.

Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands, said: “It is essential that we continue this progress and I would like to congratulate the Scottish Green Energy Award winners for the ingenuity and determination they have shown in developing new products and approaches.

“Innovation of the kind showcased tonight, such as in areas like marine energy or in community energy projects, is integral to our ambitions to decarbonise our energy system and supports our vision of a flourishing, competitive local and national energy sector, delivering secure, affordable, clean energy for Scotland’s households, communities and businesses.”

Claire Mack, Chief Executive of Scottish Renewables, added: “As ever, competition for this year’s Scottish Green Energy Awards was fierce, with so many ground-breaking projects coming to life over the past twelve months.

“Nine of our categories had finalists from the Highlands and Islands, which shows how the renewable energy industry is thriving across the country, and how the enormous environmental and economic benefits it brings are being felt by communities from the Borders to the islands.”

The Scottish Green Energy Awards, organized by industry association Scottish Renewables, took place in on December 6, 2018.