Scotland welcomes 4 marine energy firms to battle for GBP-10m prize

Aug 28, 2012 - Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon today unveiled the four teams to compete for the GBP-10-million (USD 16m/EUR 12.6m) Saltire Prize for marine energy projects -- MeyGen Ltd, ScottishPower Renewables, Pelamis Wave Power and Aquamarine Power.

Under the rules of the race, the winning company needs to reach the greatest volume of power output for a period of two years using the power of the sea off Scotland's coast. The minimum bar has been set at 100 GWh. The projects to take part in the competition are: MeyGen's tidal energy project in the Inner Sound; Pelamis' wave power facility at Farr Point; ScottishPower Renewables at Ness of Duncansby with its HS1000 tidal turbine built by Andritz Hydro Hammerfest; and Aquamarine's Oyster wave energy converter off the Isle of Lewis.

"The challenge requires highly efficient devices, and a high level of resource and robust technical capability that is comparable to conventional renewable energy power stations," commented MeyGen chief executive Dan Pearson.

ScottishPower Renewables is part of Spanish Iberdrola SA (MCE:IBE)

(GBP 1 = USD 1.580/EUR 1.258)

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