Nova Innovation has won £20m of EU funding to install a 16-turbine tidal energy farm in Orkney.
Nova will lead a pan-European consortium that will kick-start mass manufacturing of tidal turbines in the tidal industry at its headquarters in Edinburgh, the developer said.
The 4MW Seastar project builds on the achievements of Nova’s Shetland Tidal Array (the world’s first offshore tidal array) which has been powering homes, businesses, and the Shetland grid since 2016.
During this time, Nova enhanced its technology and slashed the cost of tidal energy by an impressive 40%, it said.
Simon Forrest, chief executive of Nova Innovation, said: “This is a huge win for Nova and a huge vote of confidence for the tidal energy sector.
“To be awarded this flagship European tidal energy project with turbines made and deployed here in Scotland, using a pan-European supply chain, is testament to our track record of success.
“The Seastar project will see more turbines installed than all other current deployments worldwide combined.
“This will enable Nova to start mass manufacturing, deploy at scale and continue to drive down the cost of tidal energy.”
Morag Watson, director of Policy at Scottish Renewables, said: “Together with Scotland’s incredible, world-class natural resource and a growing number of supply chain businesses dedicated to providing quality local content, the news about SEASTAR spells the start of a new chapter in the tidal energy story.
“The key to tidal deployment at scale has always been cost reduction, and Seastar will enable Nova Innovation to do that by allowing mass fabrication of new undersea power devices at its HQ in Leith.
“Today’s announcement shows that the future of tidal energy, like its development to date, lies in Scotland’s sea.”
The project partners include EMEC, Ocean Energy Europe, Leask Marine, Wood Group, SKF, DLA Piper, Renewable Risk Advisers, Primo Marine, Wave Venture and Nature Positive.