Tidal energy pioneers in Forth protest over project

RENEWABLE ENERGY: Entrepreneurs unhappy at Crown Estate over costs

Two entrepreneurs are planning to defiantly put their unique tidal energy machine on trial in the Firth of Forth this week without a licence from the Crown Estate.

Dr David Anderson and Dr Charlie Silverton said the demand from the agency that controls the seabed and foreshore for a fee amounting to £650,000 – even though it was lowered from £2 million – was still far too high.

The Crown Estate disputes their figures .

The engineers say they will launch their Capricorn prototype into the Firth of Forth on Thursday .

It will be towed into the estuary by boat and then lowered and tethered to float three metres off the seabed.

Their seven metre-wide tidal stream turbine with twin rotors and a doublechambered central hull for buoyancy will undergo trials.

If no major problems are identified, they say the full-scale Capricorn machine will be produced for commercial use within 18 months.

Measuring 38m across, it will be capable of producing 1.25 megawatts of electricity – enough to power around 1,000 homes.

Once commercially deployed, it is envisaged that arrays of 25 to 30 of the devices could be used to create “tide” farms which would be much more efficient as electricity providers than offshore windfarms.

Dr Anderson and Dr Silverton have, through their firm Renewable Devices Marine Ltd of Roslin, Midlothian, invested £250,000 and more than two years in developing the Capricorn.

They believed their efforts would have been well received in view of the Scottish Government’s desire to achieve renewable energy targets.

Dr Silverton said: “The Crown Estate’s licence for our project would cost as much as £2 million.

“We disputed this and they reduced the cost to about £650,000 for the lifetime of our project but that is still too high.

“The Capricorn prototype is not much different in size to my four-metre yacht which I can moor in the Forth for £80 a year.

“It is no wonder the tidal energy industry has ground to a halt because the Crown Estate is demanding too much.

“On Thursday we will go ahead with the trial and see what the Crown Estate do.”

Dr Anderson said: “Access to the seabed in areas where tidal generation is viable is being made as difficult and expensive as possible for technology developers such as ourselves.”

The Crown Estate, tasked by an Act of Parliament to raise revenue from the assets it manages and to deliver best value, said they did not recognise the entrepreneurs’ figures.

A scheme such as the one proposed would see the developer pay upfront costs of £7,400 for exclusive rights to the seabed site.

Once generating power, an annual rent of £2,000 for four years then £4,000 would be applied.

The spokeswoman added: “These fees help cover the costs of our staff assessing and processing the application.

“We regard these charges as fair and reasonable while consistent with our statutory obligation.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said they support the sustainable development of offshore renewable energy in Scotland’s seas.

“In relation to the development in question, Marine Scotland Licensing Operations Team (MS LOT) has not yet received, or granted, a licence or other consent which is required for the works mentioned.

“However, initial discussions have taken place with the company with further discussions planned on how they wish to progress this project. We would hope that the Crown Estate will be having similar discussions.”