Brough Head wave farm plans put back three years

Plans for a major marine energy development off the west coast of Orkney have been put back by three years by the developers.

Brough Head Wave Farm Limited, which is a partnership between wave energy company Aquamarine Power and utility company SSE Renewables, secured an Agreement for Lease from the Crown Estate, in March 2010, on an area of the coast stretching from Costa Head in the north to Neban Point in the south-west.

The company’s original proposals outlined a first phase of installation of Oyster devices on an area off Marwick, Birsay, in 2013. However, following the decision to install the next three Oyster devices at the EMEC test site and further discussions with key stakeholders, the company has been reconsidering its plans.

It now intends to look at other sites within the Agreement for Lease area with a view to having a first phase operational in 2016.