Wave Energy Scotland, a subsidiary of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, has announced a £720,000 partnership to demonstrate wave energy converters as a means of powering offshore aquaculture installations.
If developed, the installations could provide wave energy to remote island communities.
Wave energy technology developer Albatern has teamed up with seafood company Marine Harvest, which is hosting the project next to their Maclean’s Nose fish farm site south of Ardnamurchan.
WES managing director Tim Hurst said: “The results of this demonstration will help inform future public and private sector investment in wave energy technology, and could also potentially revolutionise the way fish farms and remote island and coastal communities are powered in the future, dramatically reducing their carbon footprints.
“This collaboration will help us to understand the market opportunities for small scale wave technology at aquaculture sites and in other off-grid situations.”
Albatern commercial director David Campbell said: “We are very pleased to play a key part in demonstrating wave energy working commercially on an operating fish farm.
“It also gives us the opportunity to show how our WaveNET array system can be applied to other offshore and coastal projects around the globe.”
Image: demo project in action (Albatern)
