Nova bags funding for Shetland Tidal Array storage

The energy storage project, led by tidal energy developer Nova Innovation and project partner Denchi, has been selected to receive funding through the Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme (LCITP).

The funding was announced by the First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, at All-Energy conference, currently taking place in Glasgow, as part of £43 million direct energy investment shared across 13 projects throughout Scotland.

Project partners Nova Innovation and Denchi have been awarded around £190,000 capital support to build and operate an energy storage solution for the Shetland Tidal Array.

The key aim of the project is to demonstrate the economic and technical benefit of Nova Innovation’s combined Renewable Energy and Storage system (REStore) to expand and overcome grid constraints.

The REStore system combines storage with renewable generation to allow control of output to the grid, contributing to grid stability developing baseload tidal power.

To remind, Nova Innovation installed the third tidal turbine to the Shetland Tidal Array, sited off Scotland, in February 2017. The grid-connected tidal array has the capacity of 300kW.

Nicola Sturgeon said: “These projects have great potential to help us tackle climate change, and remain at the forefront of low carbon and renewable innovation. They will also bring economic benefits – in terms of savings and jobs – to local areas across the country.”

The funding for the 13 projects, awarded by the LCITP, will be matched by a minimum of £43 million from private and public sector partners.

Other projects selected for funding include an innovative local energy system on Fair Isle, low-carbon heat networks in Dundee, Stirling, Clydebank and Glenrothes and the installation of a heat pump on the River Clyde to serve the Gorbals area.

LCITP is a collaborative partnership led by the Scottish Government, working with Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Futures Trust and Resource Efficient Scotland.

It focuses on the acceleration of low carbon infrastructure projects across public, private and community sectors.