Canadian tidal energy firm Nova Innovation has been awarded an Option Agreement from Crown Estate Scotland to develop a 15MW tidal array at Yell Sound in Shetland, off the UK coast.
The array will be situated between the islands of Yell and Bigga, and is predicted to meet over a third of household electricity demand in Shetland.
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Simon Forrest, CEO of Nova Innovation, said: “Having been at the centre of the oil and gas industry for 50 years, Shetland is now at the forefront of the green energy revolution, and we are excited to play our part in decarbonising the Shetland Islands.
“Building on Shetland’s success with the world’s first offshore tidal array in Bluemull Sound, we are delighted to be working with local partners to deliver another world-leading project.”
According to Nova, the project will boost the local supply chain and will create jobs. Companies in Shetland currently manufacture blades, steel structures and provide vessels and services for Nova, and the turbines will be manufactured at Nova’s facility in Edinburgh.
Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, said: “This agreement between Nova Innovation and Crown Estate Scotland marks another important milestone in commercialising tidal energy in Scotland, putting Shetland at the heart of this exciting technology and its capability to deliver secure and reliable clean energy to support our climate targets.”
Nova’s tidal turbines sit on the seabed and, according to the company, cause minimal impact to the environment and marine life. Furthermore, ships can pass above them without disruption.
