Pete Bevington

9 May, 2007

SHETLAND could produce no more power through wave and tidal power than it could generate from the proposed Viking Energy windfarm, it emerged yesterday (Tuesday).

A team of three consultants visiting the isles yesterday told a select group of invited guests that current assessments suggest that Shetland could produce a maximum of 600 megawatts from the wave and tide combined.

Consultants Faber Maunsell and Metoc have been commissioned by the Scottish Executive to carry out the SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Directive to work out the potential of developing marine-based renewable energy throughout the west and north coast of Scotland.

Their "desk top calculations" based on statistics and broad brush figures suggest that Scotland as a whole could produce between 525MW and 1,800MW from wave power, while tidal power would only generate between 75MW and 800MW.

In Shetland, where some of the best conditions for both wave and tidal power exist, the range is 75MW to 400MW for wave power, and less than 75MW to 200MW for tidal generation.

The low figures surprised the assembled group from Shetland Islands Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Shetland Renewable Energy Forum and the RSPB, but reflect the environmental constraints facing the development of marine energy.

SIC development manager Aaron Priest said: "This gives an indication of the reality of the development of green technology and the resource once you take into account environmental factors.

"The size of the overall resource is not as big as some people would expect when you build these factors in."

Pete Ellis, of RSPB Shetland, was still digesting the report yesterday afternoon. He said the consultants' presentation was "vague", but that was probably because of the state of knowledge about the technology involved which is still at an early stage of development.

The joint Viking Energy/Scottish and Southern Energy windfarm proposed for north and central Shetland is being designed to produce 600MW of electricity, though as Mr priest explained, it is the amount of time that any installation can produce power is the key factor in understanding its true worth.