European Marine Energy Centre

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Ltd is a UKAS accredited test and research centre focusing on wave and tidal power development based in the Orkney Islands, UK. The Centre provides developers with the opportunity to test full-scale grid-connected prototype devices in unrivalled wave and tidal conditions. The operations are spread over five sites:

EMEC was established by a grouping of public sector organisations following a recommendation by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee in 2001. In addition to providing access to areas of sea with high wave and tidal energy potential, the centre also offers various kinds of support regarding regulatory issues, grid connection and meteorological monitoring as well as local research and engineering support.

EMEC’s wave test facility is situated on the western edge of the Orkney mainland, in an area with one of the highest wave energy potentials in Europe. The exposed North Sea location means the island group is subjected to the powerful dynamic forces of the North Atlantic Ocean, with the highest wave recorded by EMEC reaching over 18 metres. Construction of the wave test facility was completed in October 2003, and operational activities commenced shortly thereafter. The centre's facilities consist of five cabled test berths, ranging from 50-70m water depth off Billia Croo, Stromness on the Orkney mainland (some 2 km offshore) and two shallow water berths situated close to EMEC's onshore substation.

The following technologies have been installed and tested at the Billia Croo wave test site so far:

For the most up-to-date information regarding technologies testing at EMEC, visit: EMEC tidal clients and EMEC wave clients

The tidal power test site at the Fall of Warness, to the west of the island of Eday, was chosen for its high velocity marine currents which reach almost 4 m/s (7.8 knots) at spring tides. The facility offers seven test berths at depths ranging from 25 m to 50 m in an area 2 km across and approximately 4 km in length.

From each developer berth, the subsea cables follow back along the seabed and then pass under the beach and into an onshore substation. An adjacent laydown area then provides an optional area for developers to use conditioning equipment for converting from the level at which they generate to grid compliant electricity.

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