EMEC wins Champion of Renewables award 2021

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has scooped the Champion of Renewables award at the 2021 Scottish Green Energy Awards in Edinburgh. The Scottish Green Energy Awards celebrates the achievements of individuals and organisations in Scotland’s renewable energy industry.

The Champion of Renewables award recognises individuals, teams and organisations that play an important role in showcasing how much the industry has to offer and tell the story in new and different ways.

Accepting the award, Matthew Finn, EMEC’s Commercial Manager, said:

“Thanks to Scottish Renewables and Crown Estate Scotland for bestowing EMEC with the Champion of Renewables Award. In a period where the world has slowed down, EMEC has been going up through the gears as has the need for combatting climate change.

Matthew also said that it was an incredibly busy year of demonstration activities across all their sites as well as working on projects across the UK, Europe and the USA. Their lobbying work, alongside the UK marine energy sector, has proven fruitful with the recent announcement of revenue support for tidal energy by the UK government.

They received global interest in what they are doing in Orkney with visits from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to Prime Minister, “and what felt like half the TV crews on the planet in the lead up to COP26”

“The fact that people are wanting to come, see and showcase what we are doing is a great testament to what we have achieved, however, we are really only just getting started with much more concentrated effort needed to drive towards net zero.

“At times it has felt like the pioneering work that EMEC and our partners do is on the fringe, but we’ve kept pushing at it. The last year has seen increasing support from government and industry with our work in ocean energy, hydrogen and energy systems coming to the fore; EMEC and Orkney are well-positioned to lead from the front in the drive to net-zero and we’ll keep striving to deliver this until our work is done.”

Morag Watson, Director of Scottish Renewables, said:

“I’m absolutely delighted that our industry has been able to reunite in person to celebrate this year’s Scottish Green Energy Awards – and it feels more special than ever in the year of COP26.

“The next decade is going to need everyone and everything we’ve got as we work towards net-zero by 2045, and the skillset, hard work and commitment of those recognised tonight absolutely show we have what it takes.

“The Scottish Green Energy Awards are an incredible celebration of the inspirational organisations, people and projects going above and beyond to make a real difference to the health, wealth and wellbeing of Scotland. My congratulations go to all of this year’s nominees, and of course winners.”

About EMEC:

Established in Orkney in 2003, EMEC is the world’s leading facility for testing wave and tidal energy converters in real sea conditions. The centre offers independent, accredited grid-connected test berths for testing full-scale prototypes, as well as test sites in less challenging conditions for use by smaller-scale technologies, supply chain companies, and equipment manufacturers.

To date, more marine energy converters have been deployed in Orkney, Scotland, than at any other single site in the world with 21 wave and tidal energy clients (from 11 countries) having tested 34 marine energy devices.

EMEC is committed to supporting the transition to net-zero and has expanded activities into other sectors including green hydrogen, floating wind, transport and energy systems.