Golden opportunity for Scots sea power

MARINE energy could be northern Scotland's answer to the Californian gold rush, a conference will hear today.

Experts will outline the potential of renewable energy schemes in the Pentland Firth, but will warn that inaction could lead to failure.

About 200 delegates will be told about Caithness's abundant energy and its ideal location for the development, design, fabrication and export of marine energy technologies.

The conference, at Our Dynamic Earth in Edinburgh, will be chaired by Lord Maclennan of Rogart, the former MP for Caithness and Sutherland.

He will urge the government to make upgrading the electricity grid in the north of Scotland a strategic priority.

He will say: "Marine energy could be Caithness's equivalent of the Californian gold rush, exploiting natural resources for economic gain.

"There are the vast economic and environmental gains that could come from success, but also the real risk of failure due to inaction."

Lord Maclennan believes the Scottish and UK governments are supportive of marine energy, providing modest grants and other incentives.

But he will add: "That's good, but it's not enough. The electricity grid is incapable of transmitting the power that could be produced by marine energy. To upgrade it will be costly; it will take time; it requires serious commitment."