Scotland is on the global marine energy map with the launch of its first energy park, which, among other things is said to help sustain jobs and also bring ‘clean’ power to thousands of homes, businesses and industries in the area.
The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Energy Park is to incorporate the world-leading European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), which attracts developers from across the world and where testing of a wide range of wave and tidal energy devices is already under way.
The purpose of the park is to heighten the international profile of the region and its reputation as a world leader in marine energy. The park will build on collaborative partnerships in the region between government on the main land and the 
Orkney Islands, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), plus a cluster of local expertise and renewable resource in the area, to help speed up progress of marine power development.
Energy from waves or tides has the potential to generate 27GW of power in the UK alone by 2050; equivalent to the power generated from eight coal fired power stations. A move to marine power can also help cut emissions and tackle climate change.
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker says: “It’s great to see Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters confirm their place on the marine power map with the launch of the second of the Coalition Government’s UK Marine Energy Parks.
“This area is already a vital part of the marine industry, thanks to its high tidal stream and wave resource. This stretch of water is also home to the European Marine Energy Centre, currently unrivalled anywhere else in the world. This park will help bring together local knowledge and expertise to spur on further development in this exciting industry.
“Marine power is a growing green clean source of power which has the potential to sustain thousands of jobs in a sector worth a possible £15bn to the economy by 2050.
“The UK is already a world leader in wave and tidal power and we need to really capitalise on this to ensure energy from marine reaches its full potential in our future energy mix.”
Photo shows: Billia Croo, EMEC’s wave test site in Scotland
More information: www.decc.gov.uk