Project aims to harness sea power

james73 · Project aims to harness sea power

Project aims to harness sea power (BBC)

A major tidal energy project is being planned for waters off the coast of
Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Scottish Power has identified the Pentland Firth, Sound of Islay and
Antrim coast to test sea turbines which could power thousands of homes.

It comes as Scotland's first minister, Alex Salmond, visited the far north
and the Crown Estate opened up the Pentland Firth seabed for leasing to
developers.

Projects on the firth could be operational by 2020.

The sea off the Caithness and Sutherland coasts and around Orkney have
been identified by the Crown Estate as having potential for generating
energy.

Mr Salmond said the firth could be seen as "the Saudi Arabia of marine
energy".

Scottish Power has been working on the Lanstrom device, which is said to
be the world's most advanced tidal turbine.

The Scottish and Irish sites would host up to 60 of the turbines - 20 at
each site - generating 60 megawatts of power for up to 40,000 homes.

The company is expected to apply for planning permission next year. The
device, similar to an underwater wind turbine, has been tested in a Norwegian
fjord.

Scottish Power insists there is no threat to marine life, but the Marine
Conservation Society said it would want to look closely at the proposals
and see a rigorous environmental impact assessment.

James H