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Power firms 'can lease sea bed' | Power firms 'can lease sea bed' |
(1 day later) | |
Sections of Scotland's sea bed are to be leased to developers who want to generate electricity from the tides, BBC Scotland understands. | Sections of Scotland's sea bed are to be leased to developers who want to generate electricity from the tides, BBC Scotland understands. |
The Crown Estate, which owns the sea bed, is expected to begin the leasing process within weeks. | The Crown Estate, which owns the sea bed, is expected to begin the leasing process within weeks. |
A quarter of Europe's marine energy potential is believed to lie around Scotland's shores. | A quarter of Europe's marine energy potential is believed to lie around Scotland's shores. |
But it has proved difficult to install the heavy engineering in places where there are powerful and dangerous tides. | But it has proved difficult to install the heavy engineering in places where there are powerful and dangerous tides. |
It is hoped one gigawatt of marine power will be delivered to the national grid by 2020 as part of the UK's renewable energy strategy. | It is hoped one gigawatt of marine power will be delivered to the national grid by 2020 as part of the UK's renewable energy strategy. |
Gareth Davies, who runs consultancy firm Aquaterra, said beginning the leasing process as soon as possible was crucial if that aspiration was to be met. | Gareth Davies, who runs consultancy firm Aquaterra, said beginning the leasing process as soon as possible was crucial if that aspiration was to be met. |
We really need a leasing process now so that people can start making applications for areas of sea bed where their technology can be deployed Gareth DaviesAquaterra | |
He said: "Although 2020 may seem a long way off, if we want to actually get that power into the grid by that time we really need a leasing process now so that people can start making applications for areas of sea bed where their technology can be deployed. | He said: "Although 2020 may seem a long way off, if we want to actually get that power into the grid by that time we really need a leasing process now so that people can start making applications for areas of sea bed where their technology can be deployed. |
"There are plans under way for a leasing round to be announced by the Crown Estate and we are hoping that will happen in the near future." | "There are plans under way for a leasing round to be announced by the Crown Estate and we are hoping that will happen in the near future." |
Several developers are attempting to create technology which will allow them to harness the awesome power of the Pentland Firth, which runs between Orkney and the Scottish mainland. | Several developers are attempting to create technology which will allow them to harness the awesome power of the Pentland Firth, which runs between Orkney and the Scottish mainland. |
Among them is Irish company OpenHydro, which has constructed what it believed was the first barge custom-built to lower generators onto the sea bed. | Among them is Irish company OpenHydro, which has constructed what it believed was the first barge custom-built to lower generators onto the sea bed. |
They are currently testing it on Orkney in a bid to prove it will work in even the most powerful currents. | They are currently testing it on Orkney in a bid to prove it will work in even the most powerful currents. |
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How the barge works | |
Chief Executive James Ives said he believed a commercial tidal farm could be operating off Scotland within two years. | Chief Executive James Ives said he believed a commercial tidal farm could be operating off Scotland within two years. |
He added: "We will actually be taking this barge out in the next couple of days and lowering this base directly on the sea bed. | He added: "We will actually be taking this barge out in the next couple of days and lowering this base directly on the sea bed. |
"It will be a world first. It is the first barge specifically designed for this operation and it will be the first time a turbine has been deployed in this way. | "It will be a world first. It is the first barge specifically designed for this operation and it will be the first time a turbine has been deployed in this way. |
"We feel that we have a fantastic turbine technology that has already proven itself by being the first to run on a national grid, and we are about to demonstrate that we can deploy turbines on the sea bed. | "We feel that we have a fantastic turbine technology that has already proven itself by being the first to run on a national grid, and we are about to demonstrate that we can deploy turbines on the sea bed. |
"These are fundamental steps towards us meeting our objectives of building farms of tidal turbines. It is very near, and it is very real." | "These are fundamental steps towards us meeting our objectives of building farms of tidal turbines. It is very near, and it is very real." |
'Industrial scale' | 'Industrial scale' |
The technology is being tested at the European Marine Energy Centre, which is based on Orkney. | The technology is being tested at the European Marine Energy Centre, which is based on Orkney. |
But Neil Kermode, the centre's chief executive, is concerned people are pushing too hard to get tidal generation into the Pentland Firth. | But Neil Kermode, the centre's chief executive, is concerned people are pushing too hard to get tidal generation into the Pentland Firth. |
He said the firth was a very powerful and dangerous piece of water that could easily wreck a tidal generator, and with it the hopes of a whole industry. | He said the firth was a very powerful and dangerous piece of water that could easily wreck a tidal generator, and with it the hopes of a whole industry. |
Mr Kermode added: "I think caution is very sensible. The Pentland Firth is absolutely the jewel in the crown and I think we need to make sure that we go there when we are ready. | Mr Kermode added: "I think caution is very sensible. The Pentland Firth is absolutely the jewel in the crown and I think we need to make sure that we go there when we are ready. |
"I think people are getting ready, but I don't think anybody could say they are ready right now, mainly because there are so many things to learn. | "I think people are getting ready, but I don't think anybody could say they are ready right now, mainly because there are so many things to learn. |
"I would like to see a lot more machines before we go out and deploy this industry on an industrial scale." | "I would like to see a lot more machines before we go out and deploy this industry on an industrial scale." |
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