Scottish-based marine energy centre to develop Japanese equivalent

Scotland’s marine energy centre has announced plans to collaborate with its Japanese counterpart to provide advice and support.

The Orkney-based European Marine Energy Centre (Emec) has unveiled an international agreement to help develop Japan’s first marine energy test centre, the Japanese Marine Energy Centre (JMEC).

Emec has signed a memorandum of understanding with Ocean Energy Association of Japan (OEAJ), with the potential for Emec to provide advice and support on the design, set-up and operation of the new centre.

The partnership will play an important role in Japan’s plans to develop alternative major energy generation schemes to traditional fossil and nuclear power methods in the wake of the Fukushima disaster.

Established in 2003, Emec is the only accredited wave and tidal test centre for marine renewable energy in the world.

Scottish Government finance secretary John Swinney said: “Scotland is blessed with some of the world’s greatest green energy resources offshore.

“Through Emec’s unrivalled expertise and the critical mass of companies now developing wave and tidal technologies in Scotland, we are leading international efforts to harness the energy of the seas to deliver safe, secure and sustainable energy.”

Richard Morris, commercial director at Emec, said: “The need to address future sustainable energy generation requirements has been accelerated in Japan, for which there is wide-ranging support from government and across the country’s industry.”