Scottish Government
The Scottish Government has been one of the strongest advocates
of the marine energy industry in Scotland and over recent years has
put in place a number of innovative and visionary programmes and
policies which have placed Scotland at the forefront of this
fast-growing new industry.
Measures have ranged from the formation of world-leading test
facilities at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney to the
implementation of significant grant schemes and the highest level
of wave energy market support available in the world.
The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and the formation of Marine
Scotland have both been viewed as positive steps which have already
brought about significant progress in delivering a more focussed
and coordinated approach to the regulation and promotion of the
marine environment.
We maintain a close relationship with MSPs, officials and
agencies through regular informal contact and through more formal
channels such as responding to government consultations.
We have also been awarded significant funding from the Scottish
Government, including £3 million in 2010 from the WATERS fund (Wave
and Tidal Energy: Research, Development and Demonstration Support)
to support the development of our second-generation Oyster 800 wave
energy machine. The fund is run and administered by Scottish
Enterprise on behalf of a collaborative venture involving the
Scottish Government along with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands
and Islands Enterprise.
I was delighted to launch the first full-scale Oyster in 2009 and to see it begin operating offshore. The launch of Oyster 1 was a key milestone for Aquamarine Power and for Scotland’s marine renewables sector. Through our investments and initiatives such as the Saltire Prize, the Scottish Government is working to ensure we capitalise on our rich natural marine resources, to meet our ambitious climate change targets, to create more high-skilled green jobs and to make a substantial contribution to one of the most pressing global challenges.
First Minister Alex Salmond MSP
Scottish Government