Marine energy company Nova Innovation has launched a new project to produce Scotch whisky distilled by tidal power in the Sound of Islay.
It will install a series of underwater turbines between the isles of Islay and Jura in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides, creating clean, renewable power generated by the tide to power local whisky distilleries.
Nova said that the subsea turbines have no visual impact on the landscape, create no shipping or navigational hazard, and work in harmony with the marine environment.
The 3MW Oran na Mara project – Gaelic for song of the sea – follows the success of Nova’s tidal power scheme at Bluemull Sound that has been powering homes, businesses and the grid in Shetland since 2016.
Nova Innovation chief executive Simon Forrest said: “We are excited by the opportunity to combine Scotland’s rich whisky heritage with the immense power of the tide in the Sound of Islay.
“Tidal energy can play a huge role in decarbonising the whisky industry and ensuring a sustainable future for Scotland’s island communities.”
Crown Estate Scotland awarded Nova Innovation an option agreement for the project which enables the company to start its detailed development.
Its development manager Mark McKean said: “Nova Innovation are taking one of the crucial next steps in Scotland’s renewable energy journey.
“This project is a great example of how a local energy system might work – and we’re hopeful to see more of these types of projects around Scottish waters, creating new developments that will grow Scotland’s blue economy and push us closer to reaching the country’s goal of net zero emissions by 2045.”
Distell’s engineering and risk manager, which owns the Bunnahabhain Distillery on Islay, Angus Colquhoun said: “This will generate potential opportunities to improve the sustainability of our energy sources with the construction of a tidal energy system on our doorstep.
“This has significant potential to support a raft of improvements that Bunnahabhain distillery is committed to making, to grow the sustainability of the iconic Scotch Malt Whisky brand and supporting the distillery to do its bit to help tackle the climate change crisis.”