The fast emerging marine renewables industry is already creating a green jobs boom in the far north of Scotland. Progress is particularly encouraging for public-sector partners working to develop the industry according to Highlands and Islands Enterprise joint head of energy Elaine Hanton.

With new predictions from Orkney based consultancy, Aquatera, that commercial scale wave and tidal energy projects in the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters could create up to 1500 jobs in the area, the successful deployment of the latest wave machine provides clear evidence of the potential economic benefits to remote communities.

Edinburgh-based Aquamarine Power worked with 27 different businesses in Orkney and Caithness as it went through the complex process of installing its prototype Oyster wave energy device on the seabed in Atlantic waters near Stromness.


"As well as having seven of our own staff directly employed in Orkney, more than 70 people from both sides of the Pentland Firth provided us with invaluable support," said Aquamarine chief executive officer Martin McAdam.

"Many were from specialist companies in both Caithness and Orkney who offered the expertise we needed to get Oyster into the water for its first sea trials - a challenging task for our own team and the many sub-contractors we work with."

The revolutionary machine was fabricated by Ross-shire engineering company Isleburn at its Nigg facility, with up to 60 staff employed on the task.

Oyster is designed to capture energy from passing waves and to use this to send water under high pressure to an on-shore hydro-electric turbine.Once installation is fully complete it will undergo trials at EMEC, the Orkney-based European Marine Energy Centre, which offers the world's first grid-connected test facilities for both wave and tidal technologies. The device is expected to generate its first electricity for the grid later this year.

"Our goal is to perfect this technology and export it worldwide," added Mr McAdam. "As well as generating clean electricity from the seas around us, we'll be creating the expertise and manufacturing jobs in Scotland needed to make this a global success."

Among the many companies that worked with Aquamarine during the installation of Oyster at EMEC was Thurso-based Calder Engineering.

The company's specialised fabrication and welding skills were used in the assembly of the subsea pipelines and in the construction of the onshore pipe work that delivers high-pressure water to the turbine.

(GK/KMcA)