Welcoming New Tidal Energy Project in Orkney

That the Parliament welcomes the announcement of the O2 2MW floating tidal energy turbine project to be built in Scotland and installed at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney; understands that the 72 metre-long O2 will be the world’s most powerful floating tidal turbine, generating more than 2MW from tidal stream resources and capable of providing power to more than 1,700 homes each year; acknowledges that the project device will be developed by Orkney-based Orbital Marine Power, which has been awarded £3.4 million of funding as the first recipient of the Scottish Government’s Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund; recognises the importance of tidal energy in tackling the climate crisis by providing a continuous, long-standing and predictable green energy source that will help in the transition towards a wholly renewable electricity system and a zero-carbon future; notes that the European Marine Energy Centre is the only centre in the world to provide developers of both wave and tidal energy converters and is therefore the ideal location to harness and maximise tidal energy; wishes everyone involved with the project the very best, and hopes that this innovative project will lead the way for other projects that will make the most of Scotland’s many renewable energy opportunities.