Vattenfall marine energy project in Scotland

It will be Vattenfall’s second site after last years venture off the coast of Shetland Islands. Scottish high winds are an important asset for Vattenfall and the company is investing heavily in wind energy both onshore and offshore. The sea off the islands of Orkney and Shetland are well suited for wave energy.

Vattenfall already has a joint venture with Scottish wave energy technology company Pelamis, Aegir Wave Power, where Vattenfall owns 62 percent. The goal is to build a wave energy farm with 11 Pelamis wave energy converters with a total installed capacity of 10 MW off the south-western Shetland coast. This would correspond to electricity for about 8500 households. This assumes that there are sufficient grid connections to the mainland.

Vattenfall and Orkney-based European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), a leading Scottish research center for marine energy, have signed an agreement for a new test site. The goal is to have the latest generation test machine from Pelamis installed in 2014. Vattenfall also wants to contribute to the development of the European wave energy industry.

– Vattenfall wants to focus on wave energy to support the transition to renewable energy with low carbon dioxide emissions. It requires safe and reliable technology. That is why we are planning to buy Pelamis Wave Power´s latest wave power converter and test it in the Orkney Islands, says Karl Bergman, Head of Vattenfall’s Research and development.

– The Orkney Islands is the place to be in wave energy research and development. We are delighted to have access to the test site and we look forward to install a wave power converter there, says KarlBergman.

www.vattenfall.com