Hydro & Marine News

Blade repairs put SeaGen tidal power scheme “back on track”

20-11-08: Four month hold-up ends as new blade is fitted to the SeaGen tidal stream project; developers say turbine could be fully operational by January

Row over pilot scheme for £2.5bn Alderney tidal project

20-11-08:

"Tough negotiations" on Channel Island as licence is granted to develop tidal power resource, but local controversy has come over the scrapping of a pilot phase

Government commits to feed-in tariffs for 2010

19-11-08: Energy Bill debate sees minister Mike O'Brien reassuring doubters that guaranteed long-term payments will be brought in for small-scale renewable electricity projects

Government raises renewables feed-in tariff cap to 5MW

18-11-08: Although actual level of feed-in tariff threshold could still be lower, ministers raise proposed maximum level from three to 5MW within today's Energy Bill debate

Project manager appointment puts Wave Hub “back on track”

17-11-08: Troubled Wave Hub marine energy test site is granted new lease of life as a subsea engineering firm is appointed to run its development

Tidal firm wins £6.2m backing from Fred Olsen Renewables

17-11-08: Tidal turbine developer Scotrenewables secures financial support from shipping tycoon Fred Olsen; as the recruitment drive in northern Scotland gathers pace

News in Brief

17-11-08:

With news of two wood fuel initiatives; a wave power deployment; planning approval for a Gloucestershire wind farm; and, a new office for npower renewables

Marine energy proposals invited in Pentland Firth "Round One"

17-11-08: Crown Estate seeks proposals from companies who could be part of a 700MW programme to establish marine energy devices in the far north-east of Scotland

Ministers seek views on Northern Ireland's energy future

17-11-08: Ministers launch consultation on Northern Ireland's four-year-old Strategic Energy Framework, to significantly increase the amount of renewable power being generated

Atlantis seeks tidal power partner for Pentland Firth project

13-11-08: Crown Estate regulation prompts marine developer to put out a call for another technology to partner its off-grid tidal powered data centre

Energy security key in next wave of European energy laws

13-11-08:

Efforts to boost investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency are central to EU Commission's latest "package" of energy legislation for Europe, unveiled today

Scots call on Europe to back North Sea renewables "supergrid"

13-11-08: Alex Salmond says supergrid would be "major step forward" for Scotland's renewable energy, as UK government attempts to keep lid on nationalist agenda

Ministerial visit for Trident wave project

11-11-08: Energy minister Lord Hunt visits Trident Energy in Suffolk as firm unveils linear generator and test rig, which is expected to be deployed next year

Offshore renewable energy achieving £32m turnover

10-11-08: Crown Estate publishes economic assessment of marine renewables industry, and warns that future growth will depend on production costs

International Power plans 10MW tidal farm on Pentland Firth

07-11-08: Electricity generator signs deal with Scottish and Southern Energy for a grid connection in the Pentland Firth, where it is planning a tidal stream farm

Call for cohesive plan to fulfil Salmond’s renewables "vision"

07-11-08: Marine energy industry gathers in Aberdeen to hear Scottish Government's director general for environment demand a more co-ordinated approach to renewable ambitions

Pelamis raises £5m to develop next generation wave power

06-11-08: After completing 2.25MW wave farm in Portugal, Edinburgh firm raises funds to develop its manufacturing process prior to installing machines in Orkneys

Government sticks to 3MW cap for microgeneration feed-in tariff

06-11-08: Energy Bill debate fails to sway minister Lord Hunt in setting 3MW upper limit on forthcoming small-scale power incentives to protect larger-scale projects

News in Brief

04-11-08: Including news of a tidal power deal for Edinburgh University; Scottish planning shake-up; Friends of the Earth view on feed-in tariff amendments; and, installation of a biogas refuelling station in Camden

Severn Barrage “not wanted” by locals, claim campaigners

30-10-08: Study suggests locals feel left out of tidal project feasibility study process and are not supportive; but environmentalist Sir Jonathon Porritt insists Barrage must go ahead

Government unveils renewable power and heat feed-in tariffs

30-10-08: Ministers propose separate feed-in tariffs for renewable electricity and renewable heat, within amendments to the Energy Bill ahead of House of Lords debate next week

Scotland reaches 3GW renewable energy milestone

29-10-08: Jim Mather opens Dalswinton and Minsca wind farms, helping Scotland to break through 3GW barrier of installed renewable energy capacity

Seaweed "efficient and reliable" biomass fuel, claim researchers

28-10-08: Crown Estate report into marine biomass potential recommends that Scotland begin farming seaweed on a small scale for anaerobic digestion

Plan to map tidal zones in Pentland Firth

27-10-08: Scotland prepares for the arrival of marine energy, as plans to redevelop Caithness port are unveiled and marine radar monitoring announced by academics

Atlantis to build tidal-powered data centre for Morgan Stanley

24-10-08: Pentland Firth project on the cards for Morgan Stanley, who wants tidal power firm Atlantis to build it an off-grid, marine powered data centre in northern Scotland