Pentland Power!

Firth currents have capacity to heat almost half homes in Highlands

WORK is about to begin on harnessing the power of the Pentland Firth which, it is claimed, has the potential to provide enough electricity for 42 thousand homes in the Highlands.
Scottish ministers have given the green light to MeyGen to press ahead with proposals to build a demonstration project of up to six turbines in the racey waters between Orkney and Caithness.
Energy Minister Fergus Ewing described the first phase in a development, which could eventually yield up 398 megawatts, enough to power around 40 per cent of homes in the Highlands, as “exciting” and “a major step forward” for Scotland’s marine renewable industry.
Mr Ewing, speaking ahead of the two-day Scottish Renewables Marine Conference which opens in Inverness, tomorrow, said that the tide was turning for the wave-energy sector. thanks to its ability to help tackle climate change.
He added: “We need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels through better and more efficient uses of energy. Marine energy, a home grown technology with huge potential, is part of the solution. With careful planning, we can harness Scotland’s huge wave and tidal energy to help cut our climate emissions while safeguarding the nation’s tremendous marine environment.”