Council buys marine energy device for £1

Orkney Islands Council has taken over ownership of a Pelamis marine energy device for the tiny sum of just £1.

The Council has paid the nominal sum for the Pelamis P2 device, which was previously owned by the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC).

The aim is to look at the potential for alternative uses to be found for the machine, which is the last of the wave energy converters to be built by Pelamis and tested at EMEC’s Billia Croo test site.

Pelamis, which were EMEC’s first clients, went into administration in 2014, ceasing development of their marine devices.

Council Leader James Stockan said: “This is a piece of Orkney’s recent maritime history that would otherwise have been towed away and scrapped.

“By taking over ownership we are putting that on hold for the time being while we explore the possibilities of finding a new use can for the device.

“One option we will look at is using it as a temporary breakwater – there are a number of potential locations across the islands where the machine could be used in this way.

Councillor Stockan also added that if the best option  available is to scrap the device, the decommissioning costs would be covered as part of the council’s agreement with EMEC.

Neil Kermode, the managing director of EMEC, also commented: “Pelamis were EMEC’s first clients and started testing their P1 device in Orkney in 2004.

“This became the world’s first offshore wave machine to generate electricity into the grid, and led to the development of the P2 devices which began testing in 2010.

“Sadly the company went into administration in 2014, ceasing further development of the Pelamis technology: a stark result of the tough economic climate that this sector faces as it endeavours to innovate pioneering new technologies to harness the power of the waves — a new and sustainable energy resource.

“However, what’s important is that the colossal amount of learning that is gained from real sea testing is shared so that the next generation of wave energy technologies can prosper, and I’m glad to say many of the wave technologies developing today have benefited from Pelamis’ lessons learnt.

Mr Kermode added, that while the sale of the device to the council is “bittersweet”, he is delighted that the council are looking to utilise it for a different means and extend its legacy.

He said: “This is part of our history – part of the wave energy story – so it will be nice to see it preserved to some extent.”

The device is currently moored at Lyness.