A PIONEERING Scottish company has secured £1.2m in backing from the Welsh Government to create the world’s first “blue energy” island.
Edinburgh based Nova Engineering – which was founded in a shed just 10 years ago – is also involved in a revolutionary tidal energy project in Canada.
Nova is building on the expertise gained after creating the world’s first offshore tidal array.
Installed in Shetland in 2016, the tidal array is about to expand to pave the way for further tidal projects.
Now the company has secured backing from the Welsh Government for its Enlli tidal scheme.
The project aims to help local people switch from diesel generation to “blue” energy.
Funding has been allocated through the European Regional Development Fund to help harness the ebb and flow of the tide
between the mainland and Ynys Enlli, “the island in the currents”, to make electricity.
Initially, five 100 kilowatt turbines will be installed on the seabed after research showed no ill effects on marine wildlife.
“Harnessing the immense, natural power of the tides in Swnt Enlli (Bardsey Sound) will provide clean ocean energy for the local community and help regenerate the local economy,” said Nova’s chief executive officer Simon Forrest.
“Our tidal turbines have been powering the Shetland grid for over four years.
“We are very excited about helping drive the blue economy in north Wales.”
Jess Hooper from Marine Energy Wales added: “This helps us deepen our Celtic connections as the project draws on expertise and learning from the world’s first offshore tidal array – three tried, tested and monitored turbines in Shetland.”
In Canada, Nova has been granted a licence to deploy a 15-turbine tidal array in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, to provide electricity to power 600 homes.
“We set up Nova Innovation in 2010 to capture clean energy from the tides to help combat climate change,” said Forrest.
“Ten years later we have achieved what many thought was impossible.
“We are generating electricity from the immense power of our seas.
“Our proven technology is displacing fossil fuels and changing the way we power our lives.”
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