ScottishPower Renewables at EMEC

Continuing the presence of Pelamis technology at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney, ScottishPower Renewables is testing a P2 Pelamis machine alongside the E.ON Pelamis machine.

The project utilises the existing electrical subsea cables, substation and grid connection at EMEC. The Scottish Government has provided funding for the project through the WATES scheme and consent via Section 36 of the Electricity Act.

The order from ScottishPower Renewables is the second commercial order for the second generation P2 Pelamis machine and was installed at EMEC for the first time in May 2012. ScottishPower Renewables and E.ON have put in place a unique joint working agreement to maximise the learning from operating and maintaining the machines as a wave farm.

The experience gained from this project will play a vital role in ScottishPower Renewables' plans to install 66 Pelamis machines in a 50MW project off Marwick Head in Orkney, for which an agreement for lease has been awarded by the Crown Estate.

Project Updates

After completing the assembly and commissioning of the ScottishPower Renewables Pelamis in our manufacturing facilities in Leith, Edinburgh, the machine was towed in a 36 hour tour along the east coast of Scotland to Orkney at the beginning of November 2011. 

Following commissioning at Lyness, on the island of Hoy, and completion of offshore infrastructure over winter, the SPR machine was installed for the first time in May 2012. Since May the ScottishPower Renewables’ Pelamis machine has amassed approximately 1000 hours of deployment time and has been generating electricity to the grid in line with expectations. 

SPR have a berth at EMECs Billia Croo test facility until March 2015 and its planned that the machine will continue its testing programme until then, being introduced to progressively more energetic sea states over time in order to test its performance in different conditions. During this testing programme the technology will be proven in order that it can be utilised at SPRs commercial wave development of Marwick Head.  

Related links: ScottishPower Renewables page about Wave Energy