Outfit to get wind power funding

An Aberdeen engineering firm is to receive some of a £1.4 million funding pot aimed at bringing down the cost of wave power.

Granite City-based Apollo Engineering will share the cash with three other marine energyfocused companies: Nova Innovation and Quoceant, both based in Edinburgh; and English firm Blackfish Engineering Design.

The development cash pot, secured from Wave Energy Scotland (WES), part of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, will see the quartet develop quick connection systems to improve the installation efficiency and infrastructure of wave power devices.

The four projects have come through the WES process to secure Stage 2 contracts in the Quick Connection Systems programme.

Apollo’s PALM connector technology

“It is an exciting engineering project and also good news”

uses a passive locking mechanism that provides the connection and load transfer between the wave energy convertor and its moorings.

Nigel Robinson, director of marine and offshore at the firm, said: “I am thrilled Apollo has made it through to the next round of the WES Quick Connector Programme.

“It is an exciting engineering project, and also good news for the north of Scotland, which has a world-class energy resource just off its shores.”

Energy Minister Paul Wheelhouse said the funding was an “important step forward”.

Mr Wheelhouse added: “Wave energy offers tremendous economic potential and can play an important role in Scotland’s response to the global climate emergency.”