Orkney sees launch of Oyster device
What is claimed to be the world’s largest working hydroelectric wave-energy device was launched on 20 November at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.
The device, dubbed Oyster, was developed by wave-energy company Aquamarine Power. It is currently the world’s only hydroelectric wave-energy device that is producing power.
The Oyster launch took place at EMEC’s Billia Croo site near Stromness, where the device was installed this summer.
Oyster is now producing power by pumping high-pressure water to its onshore hydroelectric turbine. This will be fed into the national grid to power homes in Orkney and beyond. It is claimed a farm of 20 Oysters would provide enough energy to power 9,000 three-bedroom family homes.
Speaking at the launch, Scotland’s first minister Alex Salmond MP, MSP, said: ‘Scotland’s potential renewables capacity is estimated to be around 60GW. Our waters hold around 10 per cent of Europe’s wave-power potential and as much as a quarter of its tidal-power potential.’
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