EMEC Shortlisted for Blue Economy Business Awards

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC, UK) has been shortlisted for the ‘Blue Economy Business of the Year’ award at the European Commission’s Blue Economy Business Awards 2016. Organised by the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), the Blue Economy Business Awards are aimed at showcasing excellent practices from industry and honouring those who have made a specific contribution to bringing and developing innovation in the blue economy. The award winners will be announced at a ceremony on 12 September 2016 in Hamburg, Germany, during the first summit of the Blue Economy Business and Science Forum.

To date, more marine energy companies have demonstrated their pioneering wave and tidal energy technologies at EMEC than at any other single site in the world (16 wave and tidal energy clients, spanning 9 European countries, having demonstrated 25 marine energy devices in Orkney waters).  This number will further increase this year as Sustainable Marine Energy’s PLAT-O and Scotrenewables Tidal Power’s SR2000 become the 26th and 27th technologies to be tested at EMEC.  This mass of activity has been the catalyst for the development of the marine renewables industry locally, nationally and further afield.

Progress Marine Renewables

Since being established in 2003, an experienced supply chain has developed around EMEC in Orkney, servicing the many technologies that test off Orkney’s coasts as well as exporting around the world. EMEC is involved in various transnational projects looking to progress marine renewables towards commercialisation, the most recent of which – FORESEA - provides funding support to ocean energy technology developers to access the world-leading test facilities throughout North-West Europe.

Globally, EMEC works with national governments helping them to establish their own marine energy test centres, and thus national industries, and has led an international network for test centres across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania to ensure common standards are developed across the world.

Oliver Wragg, EMEC’s commercial director, said that when EMEC was established in 2003 it had two objectives: harness the power of the waves and tides that surround the UK and Europe; and stimulate economic development in coastal European communities. He sees that Orkney now acts as a case study for the economic benefits that can be achieved through the activities taking place in and around a test facility – activities that if developed to a larger scale will form a new sustainable industry for the blue economy.