£10m prize for Scottish wave power projects

A £10m prize has been launched for the first scientists able to demonstre a commercially viable wave or tidal energy system in Scottish waters.

The Saltire Prize Challenge was launched in Edinburgh this week and the winning project must be able to achieve a minimum electrical output of 100Gwh over a continuous two-year period using only the power of the sea. Cost, environmental sustainability and safety will also be taken into account.

Dr Anne Glover, Scotland’s Chief Scientific Adviser and chair of the Challenge Committee, said:

“The Saltire Prize challenge aims to accelerate the rate at which wave and tidal technologies can deliver power output that will represent real commercial opportunity. And make a meaningful contribution to Scotland’s ambitious renewable energy and carbon emissions targets.”

First Minister Alex Salmond rather grandly described the Pentland Firth as the “Saudi Arabia of renewable marine energy”. Without the sun. Or pots of money, but let’s not be picky.

The government claims Scotland’s renewable energy potential could see it provide 25 per cent of Europe’s wind power, 25 per cent of its tidal power and 10 per cent of the continent’s wave power.

More from the Scottish government website here.