Tide turns with agreement for the world’s biggest wave farm

PLANS to build the world’s largest wave farm off Orkney have moved closer after a deal was signed between two major developers.

Alstom, based in France, and Scottish firm SSE Renewables have signed a joint venture agreement to develop the Costa Head Wave Project north of the Orkney mainland.

The site, which could create up to 200 Megawatts (MW) of wave power, is in the Crown Estate’s Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Strategic Area.

SSE Renewables was awarded exclusive rights to develop the site in 2010 as part of the world’s first commercial leasing programme for wave and tidal energy generation projects, undertaken by The Crown Estate.

The firm is currently developing half of the 1.6 GW of wave and tidal sites leased by the Crown Estate as part of the programme. The Costa Head site is located in water depths of 60–75m (196-230ft) about three miles to the north of Orkney.

John Thouless, head of marine development at SSE Renewables, said: “We are delighted to enter into this partnership. This represents a significant milestone for the Costa Head Project and we look forward to working together with Alstom on the successful development of this important wave site.”