18 May 2010
A new generation of prototype wave power machine has been unveiled by the first minister. Alex Salmond said the generator represented "another significant step" in Scotland's journey to become the green energy powerhouse of Europe. It is 180m long, weighs 1,500 tonnes and can produce 750kW of electricity. Manufactured in Leith, the Vagr Atferd generator will now be transported to Orkney, where it will tested for three years to prepare it for commercial use.The Vagr Atferd was produced by the Leith-based firm Pelamis Wave Power (PWP) for the German energy giant E.ON. Neels Kriek, PWP chief executive, said: "This is a unique opportunity for PWP and our Scottish and UK supply chain partners to stimulate significant immediate and local economic benefits and importantly to create many more hi-tech jobs in Scotland." The device's development and construction was part funded by the UK government Carbon Trust's marine renewables proving fund and is E.ON's first wave powered generator in the UK
Dr Paul Golby, chief executive of E.ON UK, said: "Today's launch is a celebration of the successes we've seen with renewables and a clear example of the changing shape of the UK energy industry. "There is a real potential for the UK to lead the marine energy sector." Orkney schoolboy Matthew Rendall named the machine Vagr Atferd, which is derived from the Norse for wave power. WWF Scotland said report published last year, The Power Of Scotland Renewed, suggested that by 2030 renewable energy could meet between 60% and 143% of Scotland's annual electricity demand.
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