Funding of £20 million could turbo-charge tidal energy in far north, says MeyGen director
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The decision by the UK government to ring-fence £20 million for tidal and wave energy will help create jobs and turbo-charge the industry, according to the company behind the MeyGen project in the Pentland Firth.
Sean Parsons, Simec Atlantis Energy's director of external affairs, described the funding as "very good news" while far north MP Jamie Stone hailed this week's announcement as "a welcome breakthrough".
However, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Maree Todd described the measure as "half-hearted" and said the level of funding lacked ambition in the wake of the COP26 climate change conference.
Mr Parsons said: "We are delighted the government is going to be backing tidal energy.
"A huge thank you to the supporters and champions that have made the case for our technology and the role it will play in creating jobs, investment and delivering the only predictable renewable energy source with no visual impact."
He added: "The Pentland Firth is already home to the world’s most powerful tidal stream turbines and, on the back of the announcement, we look forward to deploying many more – creating jobs and, alongside our partners Nova, turbo-charging the tidal industry."
Mr Stone is pleased £20 million will be ring-fenced for wave and tidal stream renewables in the upcoming Contract for Difference bids.
Earlier this month, the Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP signed a cross-party letter to urge the UK government to set aside funding for tidal stream generation.
He said the north has a world-leading role to play in marine renewables from Nigg on the Cromarty Firth to MeyGen in the Pentland Firth.
The Liberal Democrat MP said: "The Prime Minister’s announcement is a welcome breakthrough. After months of lobbying from the industry and parliamentarians alike, it is heartening that the government has finally listened to the watertight business case for tidal stream.
"The government’s financial backing will ensure Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross can continue to play host to the green jobs of the future. This is a win for the Highlands and a win for our energy generation capability across the UK."
Trudy Morris, the chief executive of the Caithness Chamber of Commerce, said: "We have long called for the ring-fencing of new and innovative technologies such as wave and tidal as part of the Contracts for Difference process, and we are pleased that the UK government has seen sense on this matter.
"Ensuring a net-zero energy future for the UK will involve a wide range of technologies and it is vital that innovative solutions are given the opportunity to flourish.
"The north Highlands is already a world leader in the delivery of tidal energy thanks to the record-breaking MeyGen project. We hope that this upcoming funding round will enable support for future wave and tidal energy developments in the region."
Although north SNP MSP Maree Todd welcomed the announcement, she said the funding "falls short of what is required".
She added: "I want to see coastal communities in my constituency benefiting from what the tidal sector has to offer, from high-quality jobs, like those offered by MeyGen, to thriving local economies but, right now, the UK government is undermining Scotland’s potential by failing to come forward with adequate funding.
"If we are to believe the political will is there to combat climate change and deliver ‘a green industrial revolution’ as promised during the COP26 summit, the UK government must provide the industry with the necessary funding to match their ambitions."
However, Scottish Secretary Alister Jack described the funding as "tremendous news" and "an exciting development" while Morag Watson, director of policy at Scottish Renewables, said: "Ring-fenced funding to get more projects in the water is essential and we hope to see further success for our Scottish tidal technology leaders as a result."
The UK government said the funding would kick-start "a brand new chapter for the tidal industry, create jobs across the country and unlock the potential for a thriving UK tidal power sector". It could also help develop its technology and lower costs.
The Contracts for Difference scheme is the government’s primary method of encouraging investment in low-carbon electricity and has helped deliver substantial new investment and reductions in the costs of capital for some renewable technologies. It helped reduce the price of offshore wind by 65 per cent.
The fourth round opens on December 13.
