Councillors praise MeyGen role in making Caithness 'the Energy County'
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Local councillors have praised the pioneering MeyGen project, saying it can help Caithness become renowned as "the Energy County".
Members of Highland Council's Caithness Committee expressed their support after being given a presentation by Sean Parsons of Simec Atlantis, the company behind the tidal stream development in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth.
He spoke of the support the Caithness community had given to MeyGen, the potential for skilled jobs and the further supply change opportunities that can be unlocked.
Councillor Karl Rosie later put forward a motion summing up the committee’s views and reflecting the potential for the area to become established as a world leader in marine power.
The motion states: “Caithness Area Committee recognises that the MeyGen project has positioned Caithness and Scotland as a world leader in the development and deployment of marine energy. The award-winning and pioneering project has already produced more tidal stream power than anywhere else in the world, creating highly skilled jobs both direct and throughout the supply chain.
“Caithness members confirm their full support for the development of the project to realise its full potential in terms of tidal energy generating capacity and the establishment of the McCloud data centre creating an integrated subsea, terrestrial, data centre and renewables project to provide Scotland with world-class digital infrastructure and the necessary tools to attract hyperscale availability zone requirements.
“Caithness Area Committee further calls on Highland Council to lobby support of UK government for a 100MW minima for tidal energy in the next CFD [Contracts for Difference] auction round.”
Councillor Rosie (Thurso and Northwest Caithness) said: "The value of this work came through loud and clear during our discussions.
"Caithness is offering a unique selling point to help address the many challenges facing energy provision. Our vision is for Caithness to be known globally as 'the Energy County'.
"We have an opportunity to explore more ways our workforce and businesses can benefit, so I was delighted to put forward the motion.”
The committee chairperson, Councillor Nicola Sinclair (Wick and East Caithness), said: “I am delighted that the committee has given its unanimous backing to this motion and I would like to thank Sean for his fascinating presentation. Our committee looks forward to working with him and his team to make the most of every opportunity.”
Caithness councillors visited the assembly yard at Nigg in Easter Ross in early September to get an insight into the next phase of the MeyGen project.
