Weekly Intelligence Brief

EMEC receives £2.5m funding

4 December 2009

Orkney’s European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) is to receive an additional £2.5 million funding.

First Minister Alex Salmond confirmed the development. Funding is from the Scottish Government (£1.45 million), Scottish Enterprise (£400,000), Highlands and Islands Enterprise (£578,000) and Orkney Island Council (£187,000).

The investment will help fund new infrastructure for wave and tidal test sites and two new posts, a technical director and commercial director.

This funding, according to an official statement, supports the Scottish Government’s plans to capitalise on Scotland’s renewables potential and ambitions to become a European powerhouse for clean energy. EMCE is the world’s only accredited testing facility for wave and tidal energy devices.

Salmond mentioned that marine renewables will make a significant contribution to Scotland’s future energy mix and has the potential to create 12,500 Scottish jobs by 2020.

Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s director of Regional Competitiveness, Alex Paterson, added that EMEC and its network of support companies are “key to the region’s plans to secure a valuable share of the industry's business”.

This investment will cement the centre’s position at the forefront of the emerging marine renewables sector, said Paterson.

Read more:

European Marine Energy Centre: http://social.tidaltoday.com/search/node/European+Marine+Energy+Centre

Alex Salmond: http://social.tidaltoday.com/search/node/Alex+Salmond

Highlands and Islands Enterprise: http://social.tidaltoday.com/search/node/Highlands+and+Islands+Enterprise