BIC MARINE ENERGY OFFICIALS VISIT EMEC, ORKNEY

During October ‘13 BIC Marine Energy work sector officials held their meeting in Orkney and whilst there went along to see for themselves the excellent work being carried out at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) based at Stromness.  This included the new and exciting technologies currently being tested.  More details of EMEC’s history and function is available at  http://www.emec.org.uk/. 

The group were also joined on the site visit by a number of stakeholders and were briefed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Orkney Islands Council about how they support the industry.  Later that day, there was an opportunity to see the new £8m extension to Kirkwall harbour and to hear from the Harbour Master how his office copes with the ever increasing shipping that marine energy projects are bringing. 

The BIC Marine Energy group have previously recognised that, in order to progress the marine renewables industry towards commercialisation, greater collaboration is required to overcome common issues that are impeding the industry and the topic was a key feature at the Heads of Government’s Summit held in Stirling in 2012 (http://www.britishirishcouncil.org/communiqu%C3%A9s/summits)

Jeremy Martin, the Joint Head of the British-Irish Council Secretariat said “Feedback from the group was that they were very impressed by the world class facility which EMEC is providing and the visit provided invaluable opportunities for networking and sharing of ideas.”