Islay jobs promise

A NEW tidal energy development off the coast of Islay promises to create new jobs.

A TIDAL energy development off the south-west coast of Islay has been granted planning consent, promising to create up to 32 new jobs.

The DP Marine Energy Limited development, called the West Islay Tidal Energy Park, will consist of 30 tidal energy turbines located approximately six kilometres off the south-west coast of Islay.

Scottish Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy, Paul Wheelhouse, confirmed that consent had been granted for the offshore development, saying: ‘Marine renewable technologies offer huge potential to the Scottish economy and to rural communities. The West Islay Tidal Energy Park builds upon this, helping us to generate more clean, green electricity in Scotland and to meet our climate change obligations.’

DP Marine Energy claims that the tidal park will have a generating capacity of up to 30 megawatts, enough to power around 18,000 homes.

Leader of Argyll and Bute Council Aileen Morton commented: ‘We aim to be at the heart of renewable energy development in Scotland by taking full advantage of the Argyll and Bute’s unique and significant mix of renewable resources.

‘The granting of planning consent for the West Islay Tidal Energy Park is welcome news and we hope it will contribute to the growth of the local economy.’