Nova VOLT gets $2.8m injection from Scottish government
Nova Innovation was awarded a $2.8m cash injection from the Scottish Government to advance its tidal turbine manufacturing to a global level.The funding, delivered through Scottish Enterprise, is directed at Nova’s VOLT (VOlume Manufacturing and Logistics for Tidal Energy) project that aims to develop the first European assembly line to mass manufacture tidal turbines, and trial innovative techniques and tools to ship, deploy and monitor turbines around the world.The project will examine how to improve turbine performance…
Renewable Energy: The Tides Help Power Cars in Scotland
Nova Innovation announced that vehicles in Shetland are now fueled by the power of the sea, courtesy of the creation of the first ever electric vehicle (EV) charge point where drivers can ‘fill up’ directly from a tidal energy source.The EV charge point is located on the shores of Bluemull Sound, at Cullivoe harbor on the island of Yell in Shetland. Beneath the water, Nova’s tidal turbines have been powering homes and businesses in Shetland for more than five years.
Work Partially Resumes at Moray East OWF after Covid-19 Demobilization
Work has partially resumed on the Moray East Offshore Windfarm project in Scotland following the demobilization of the project’s onshore sites announced in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.Following the updated guidance from the Scottish Government, Public Health Scotland, and Construction Scotland, a limited amount of work has restarted on the Moray East project on May 11, 2020. "Work will only go ahead where the guidance can be achieved…
Macquarie's to Compete for Scottish Offshore Wind Lease
Macquarie's Green Investment Group (GIG) and Scottish offshore wind developer Renewable Infrastructure Development Group have partnered to compete in the next round of leasing for offshore wind development in Scotland, they said on Monday.ScotWind, the next round of seabed leasing for offshore wind development off the Scottish coast, is due to be launched by Crown Estate Scotland soon.Crown Estate Scotland has said that it has completed…
Tidal Power Firm gets Funding from Scottish Gov't
Tidal energy developer MeyGen Ltd has been awarded a £1.545 million grant from the Scottish Government's Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund.The proceeds will be used to develop a subsea tidal turbine connection hub for the next phase of development of the MeyGen tidal power array, the world's largest tidal stream power project, SIMEC Atlantis Energy, the parent company of MeyGen Ltd. said.The MeyGen Phase 1A, located off the northern tip of Scotland…
AS Mosley, Fugro Get Funding for FOWT Tech
Aberdeenshire-based offshore simulation and analysis company, AS Mosley, Dutch Fugro, together with Strathclyde University, have been awarded funding from The Carbon Trust, to develop new technology for monitoring Floating Offshore Wind Turbines (FOWT). As one of eight projects to benefit from a share of £1m from The Carbon Trust, the project will see the development of a highly efficient method for measuring fatigue and detecting anomalies in real-time for the renewable energy sector…
Scotland Funds World's Most Powerful Tidal Turbine
The Scottish Government announced that it has awarded engineering company Orbital Marine Power GBP3.4mln (USD 4.1million) in funding for its floating tidal turbine, which is the world’s most powerful.The Scottish engineering company is the first recipient of the Scottish Government’s GBP10 million Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund.The funding will be used to deliver the next generation O2 2MW Floating Tidal Energy Turbine, capable of powering more than 1…
Scotland to Power Ferries with Hydrogen
Ferries serving the Western Isles and West Coast of Scotland could soon be powered by hydrogen generated from onshore island wind power, according to a newly published feasibility study.The Scottish Western Isles Ferry Transport Using Hydrogen (SWIFTH2) project, which was led by the Point and Sandwick Trust in collaboration with seven industry partners including Wood, was part-funded by the Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme.The project team also included Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy…
Pfisterer Wins Moray East Offshore Windfarm Deal
The global manufacturer of high-voltage cable accessories and a system provider Pfisterer has won a contract for the supply of the 220kV land cable accessories for the grid connection of the 950MW Moray East offshore wind farm in Scotland."In cooperation with the cable manufacturer TELE-FONIKA Kable and the international cable and pipeline installation contractor VolkerInfra, Pfisterer has been awarded the contract for the supply of the 220 kV land cable accessories for the grid connection of the new Moray East Offshore Windfarm…
Carbon Trust to Make Offshore Wind Vessels Greener
The Carbon Trust's Offshore Wind Accelerator (OWA) issued a Request for Information (RFI) on the potential to reduce emissions and fuel consumption in offshore vessels. OWA plans to start a new industry competition next month.The RFI is the first stage in the competition that will have an estimated funding envelope of circa GBP 400,000.The results from the RFI will help gauge the current interest and development levels, and assist efforts to tailor the competition to best suit industry needs.The initial focus will be on systems…
Scottish Government Wins Fracking Case Against Ineos
Scotland's highest court has ruled in favor of a government ban on fracking which had been challenged by energy giant Ineos, the Scottish government said on Tuesday."This decision vindicates the extensive process of research and consultation which the Scottish government has undertaken since 2015," Scottish business minister Paul Wheelhouse said in a statement. "Our preferred position is not to support unconventional oil and gas extraction in Scotland (fracking)…
UK Takes Extra Measures to Support Shale Gas Development
The British government announced measures on Thursday to speed up planning applications to support development of the country's shale gas industry.Increasing reliance on imported gas as Britain's domestic North Sea output declines is one of the driving forces behind government support for hydraulic fracturing, which involves extracting gas obtained from rocks broken up or fractured with water and chemicals at high pressure.However, it is impossible to know exactly how much shale gas might be underground - and…
Ineos to Challenge Scotland's Ban on Fracking
Energy group Ineos has applied to launch a legal challenge to the Scottish government's ban on onshore unconventional oil and gas development in Scotland, known as "fracking", arguing the ban was imposed unlawfully. Scotland decided to outlaw fracking in October after a public consultation found overwhelming opposition to the practice. However, Ineos said that decision flew in the face of other expert reports which concluded that shale gas could be produced safely and has applied for a judicial review.
Sustainable Marine Energy’s Inshore Platform PLAT-I Powers Up
On November 25th Edinburgh-based tidal energy technology developer Sustainable Marine Energy (SME) completed the installation of its game changing PLAT-I tidal energy system at Connel, near Oban in western Scotland. The operation, including tow-out, was completed in under 5 hours using Green Marine’s multicat vessel Green Isle. PLAT-I is a multiple turbine floating tidal energy platform hosting Schottel Hydro's (SHY) turbine system rated at 280kW.
Scottish Government Says 'No' to Fracking
The Scottish government will not support the development of fracking after a public consultation found overwhelming opposition to the practice, the energy minister said on Tuesday. Scotland imposed a moratorium on fracking in 2015 and that will now remain in place for the foreseeable future. "The decision taken today means fracking cannot and will not take place in Scotland," Paul Wheelhouse told the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh.
O&G Market Study to Examine UKCS Skills
A major new in-depth labor market analysis of the oil and gas industry is to be carried out to determine the conditions of the sector and to shape a new skills strategy for the continued success of the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) over the next 20 years. Led by safety, standards and workforce development organization, OPITO, the project will be carried out by the Robert Gordon University’s Oil and Gas Institute. The intelligence will…
Peterhead Port Secures Offshore Wind Contract
Peterhead Port Authority is set to support the start of offshore construction work for the European Offshore Wind Deployment Centre (EOWDC) after signing an agreement to harbor the suction bucket jacket foundations for the 11-turbine scheme. The contract will see the port moor one of the world’s largest floating cranes, with a maximum lifting capacity of 5,000 metric tons, and up to six barges that will transport the 11 foundations - the heaviest of which weighs around 1,800 metric tons and is about 77 meters high.
Total, Heriot-Watt University Sign Research Deal
Energy giant Total and Heriot-Watt University have signed five-year partnership agreement worth a minimum of GBP 2.5 million to boost research and education. Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited the Edinburgh Campus of Heriot-Watt University yesterday (Thursday 20 April) to mark the signing of the deal between Total and the University’s Institute of Petroleum Engineering. The agreement was signed by Elisabeth Proust, managing director…
103 Cranes Ordered for East Anglia ONE Wind Farm
Aberdeen-based Sparrows Group said it has signed a contract to supply 103 cranes for installation at ScottishPower Renewables’ 714 megawatt East Anglia ONE offshore wind farm. Located off the coast of Suffolk, the wind farm will be capable of producing enough electricity to power around 500,000 homes and is anticipated to generate first power in 2019 and be fully-operational by 2020. All the offshore wind turbine cranes will be designed…
Scotland Launches Consultation on Fracking
Scotland has launched a consultation on whether to allow unconventional oil and gas extraction such as fracking, its government said on Tuesday, with a vote expected at the end of the year. Substantial amounts of shale gas are estimated to be trapped in underground rocks and the British government wants to exploit it to help offset declining North Sea oil and gas output. However, hydraulic fracking - which involves extracting gas obtained…
