Business briefs: Crown Estate backs tidal power plans | Sofant | Citibase

Orkney-based Scotrenewables Tidal Power has secured a lease from the Crown Estate to develop a 30 MW tidal stream array at Lashy Sound in the Pentland Firth.

This follows the company testing a 250 kW device at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney. The project is one of three tidal energy projects that the Crown Estate gave the green light to yesterday. Others included the Solent Ocean Energy Centre off the Isle of Wight and another project near Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland.

Sofant to develop satellite tracking

A SCOTTISH company specialising in miniature “smart antennae” technology has been chosen to take part in the development of a European satellite tracking device.

Edinburgh-based Sofant Technologies has joined a €1.5 million (£960,000) project, known as Armours, to develop a wearable “black box” location tracking device to be used by police and other security and emergency forces using Europe’s Galileo satellite system. Currently accurate tracking using American-controlled GPS satellite services is restricted to US military use.

Citibase has space for entrepreneurs

Citibase, the serviced office company, has launched a scheme to help the next generation of young entrepreneurs by providing free office space in its centres across the UK for up to a year. There are two in Edinburgh.

The Young Entrepreneurs Scheme is in line with the government’s attempts to boost the economy from the grass roots. About 60 per cent of private sector jobs are created by start-up and small firms.