Pioneering tidal power device to be tested in Scotland

Hammerfest Strøm UK Ltd., subsidiary of the Norwegian tidal power developer Hammerfest Strøm AS, has today (Tuesday 2nd February, 2010) received a £ 3.9 million grant from the Carbon Trust for the construction and testing of a 1 MW tidal power device at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.

The tidal turbine, known as HS1000, is expected to be fully operational in Orkney by 2011. Hammerfest Strøm UK has already completed the design and pre-engineering and is now tendering for fabrication and installation. After a test period, the company will work with ScottishPower Renewables who have plans to install the device as part of a 10MW tidal power array in the Sound of Islay by 2012. This project will be the largest demonstration tidal power project in the world and put ScottishPower Renewables at the forefront of global tidal power developers.