Nova Innovations has been awarded a £2 million cash injection from the Scottish Government to advance tidal turbine manufacturing to a global level.
The funding, delivered through Scottish Enterprise, is directed at the tidal energy firm’s VOLT project.
It aims to develop the first European assembly line to mass manufacture tidal turbines and trial innovative techniques and tools to ship, deploy and monitor turbines around the world.
The project will also examine how to improve turbine performance, logistics for mass manufacture, and develop new techniques to ensure cost-effective delivery of tidal turbines. VOLT will also deliver an adaptable Remote Observation Platform (ROP) for rapid environmental monitoring of tidal energy sites.
Simon Forrest, CEO of Nova Innovation, said: “This support is significant and very welcome as it sees Nova and the wider sector shift onto an industrial footing. It is an endorsement of Nova’s global ambition to transform the power of our seas into clean, predictable energy, empowering coastal communities all around the world.”
The announcement follows a visit by Energy Minister Michael Matheson to Nova’s Edinburgh base on yesterday.
Mr Matheson said: “With our abundant natural resources and expertise, Scotland is ideally-placed to harness the enormous global market for marine energy whilst helping deliver a net-zero economy both here and across the world. That’s why we are determined to help the sector grow and develop.
“The VOLT project marks an important milestone in commercialising the sector, and I look forward to Nova Innovation capitalising on this funding to drive forward what is an incredibly exciting opportunity to advance tidal energy’s potential.”
The VOLT (Volume Manufacturing and Logistics for Tidal Energy) project will run from 2021 to 2023.