The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has applied to Scottish authorities for a site-wide Section 36 consent at its grid-connected Billia Croo wave power zone off Orkney.
The move is designed to streamline the consenting process for developers by reducing the time and cost associated with device demonstration at the test site.
EMEC’s application to Marine Scotland is for a maximum installed generating capacity of 20MW across the site. If approved, the consent will last until 2040.
The application includes environmental assessments into impacts that may occur during the installation, operation, maintenance and decommissioning phases of testing at Billia Croo (pictured).
The assessments are focused on an agreed envelope of device types and activities that could be deployed within the test site boundaries.
“In order for developers to deploy marine renewable devices and generate electricity at sea, it is a regulatory requirement to gain statutory consents and marine licences,” said EMEC environment and consents specialist Caitlin Long.
“At present, any technologies with a generating capacity over 1MW must go through a more arduous consenting process prior to deployment,” she added.
EMEC’s Section 36 consent application is out for consultation until 16 August.