Experts set to join marine energy team

A TEAM of experts is being put together in the Highlands to provide specialist knowledge of environmental issues in the growing marine energy industry.

The group of more than 20 academic, technical and support staff is being assembled at the Caithness-based Environmental Research Institute (ERI) to tackle areas including assessing wave and tidal resources and monitoring the ecological and wildlife impacts of power devices.

ERI director Professor Stuart Gibb said: "Despite rapid development of marine generating devices – often pioneered in this region – knowledge of environ-mental issues is much less advanced and we have the opportunity to establish academic leadership in this field."

ERI is to open the 3 million Centre for Energy and the Environment in Thurso, beside the Pentland Firth, the focus of the world's first commercial wave and tidal leasing round, for major energy developments on ten sites from Caithness to Orkney.

ERI is now recruiting a programme leader and researchers for the 4m Marine Renewable Energy and the Environment programme, which it will lead in partnership with the Scottish Association for Marine Science in Dun-staffnage, Argyll. Both organisations are part of UHI, the prospective University of the Highlands and Islands.

Prof Gibb said: "With some of the world's best natural resources and a leading edge in renewables technologies, the Highlands and Islands region is developing a worldwide reputation in the marine renewables sector. Our role is to advance understanding of the often complex and challenging marine environmental issues.

"This task will bring significant numbers of new knowledge-based jobs to the area.