Scotland's EMEC wins lease extension for tidal energy test site

Crown Estate Scotland has granted the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) an extension until 2040 of its lease for the Fall of Warness tidal energy test site in Orkney, Scotland. The particular site is located off Eday, one of Orkney’s northern isles, and gives marine energy developers access to eight grid-connected test berths ranging in depth from 12 metres (39.4 ft) to 50 metres. It was officially opened in 2007 and since then a total of 10 tidal energy companies have tested 19 prototypes. This includes Orbital Marine Power, formerly Scotrenewables, which recently won a marine licence to test its Orbital O2 device as part of a project running up to 2039.