Tidal energy park off Islay could generate enough electricity for 18,000 homes

Scottish Government gives go-ahead to scheme hailed as a ‘milestone’ development in green energy

Anew tidal power park has been given the go-ahead in waters off Scotland’s west coast.

The 30-turbine scheme, which will create 32 jobs, will be located around four miles off the south-west coast of Islay and is set to be one of the world’s first commercial-scale project of its kind.

It will generate up to 30 megawatts of green electricity, enough to supply around 18,000 homes. Irish renewable power company DP Marine Energy, which is behind the development, believes there is potential to expand the scheme in the future to reach a generating capacity of up to 400 megawatts.

Construction is due to start in 2019 after planning consent was granted by the Scottish Government.

The new wave park will help the country meet its climate change obligations and benefit the economy, according to energy minister Paul Wheelhouse.

“Marine renewable technologies offer huge potential to the Scottish economy and to rural communities throughout the world,” he said. “Scotland has a third of the UK’S tidal stream resources and two thirds of its wave resources.

“We are also home to the world’s leading wave and tidal test centre, the world’s largest planned tidal stream array and the world’s largest tidal turbine. “The West Islay Tidal Energy Park builds upon this strong foundation.”

The development has been welcomed by environmentalists and renewables industry leaders.

Lindsay Roberts, senior policy manager at Scottish Renewables, said: “Scotland is home to some of the most powerful tidal streams in Europe and already leads the world in the development of the cuttingedge devices which will allow us to harness their power.

“This announcement shows the continued ambition of this young sector as well as underlining the local employment and economic benefits which renewable energy can bring to some of our country’s most remote areas.”

Gina Hanrahan from campaign group WWF Scotland, said power from Scottish seas could make a “significant contribution” in the fight against global warming. “Scotland’s growing tidal industry is hitting new milestone,” she said.

0 The new project will create 32 jobs