Firth power plan to turn algae into biodiesel
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POWER from the Pentland Firth could be used for a research and development project to look at ways of using algae to produce biodiesel.
That was said yesterday by Bill Mowat, who is the chairman of Gills Harbour Ltd.
He said the plan could involve North Highland College in Thurso and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Mr Mowat pointed out that in the early 18th century around 50 people were employed in the Gills Bay area producing soda ash from seaweed – a form of algae – which was used for making textiles, glass and soap at the time of the Industrial Revolution.
"Algae is regarded as being a more efficient way of producing biofuels than American maize or Brazilian sugar cane," said Mr Mowat, who would like to see some of the power generated from the MeyGen tidal development in the Inner Sound used for local projects.
He was speaking after it emerged a proposed data centre on the shores of the Pentland Firth is not being "actively pursued" – although it has not been dropped.
The centre was initially proposed by the Atlantis Resources Corporation – one of the companies involved in the MeyGen Ltd project – as a way of using excess energy from the firth development.
At the time, the national grid did not have the capacity to transfer all the power generated by the Pentland Firth scheme. However, that has changed as the grid connections have improved and, as a result, the data centre plan is no longer a priority.
Mr Mowat said he would be "disappointed" if the data centre plan has dropped down the agenda as it could have created around 30 jobs in north-east Caithness.
However, he is pleased MeyGen has not dropped the idea and "hoped that would be the case".
Mr Mowat pointed out Gills is the nearest port to the Inner Sound and said he would like to see some of the power from the tidal energy project used for local projects.
He backed the data centre plan but also suggested energy from the firth could be used for a research and development project to look at ways of using algae to produce biodiesel.
Dan Pearson, the chief executive officer of MeyGen, confirmed the data centre plan is not being "actively pursued" but he stressed it has not been dropped.
He said there is "still a lot of potential for a data centre" to be established using power from the Pentland Firth.
That view was shared by Eann Sinclair, the programme manager for the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership which is one of the bodies trying to offset the loss of jobs from the rundown at Dounreay.
"In one way it would be disappointing if the data centre has gone down the agenda. But it is possible that MeyGen or some other company could still establish a data centre using power from the Pentland Firth," said Mr Sinclair.
He argued that with super-fast broadband and improvements in digital infrastructure a number of companies may consider setting up a data centre in the county.
"It is not an idea that is going to disappear," added Mr Sinclair.
Meanwhile, Mr Pearson said the tidal energy project in the Inner Sound is making progress.
MeyGen Ltd – a joint venture between investment bank Morgan Stanley, independent power generator International Power and tidal technology provider Atlantis Resources – plans to submerge up to 400 turbines in the Inner Sound and generate enough energy to power 400,000 homes.
Construction is expected to take place on a phased basis until 2020.
MeyGen also intends to construct three onshore buildings close to the foreshore at Ness of Quoys. They are estimated to cost over £2.5 million, and will house special equipment to take the power from the subsea cables.
