As tidal energy gets a big boost in the news, government body gives aid to north east energy developers
CURRENT2CURRENT LTD (C2C), a Scottish marine energy company, has received a research and development grant of £100,000 from Scottish Enterprise.
The grant will be added to the company’s own allocated funds of £260,000 and match funding from a private investor to allow the testing of a new tidal energy convertor it is building in rural Grampian over the next six months.
The Aberdeenshire based company is the latest in a line of Scottish or Scotland based companies that have seen a growth in success commercial testing for tidal power.
"There appears to be a real appetite for tidal power right now, perhaps due to the predictability of this type of energy conversion." Brian Barnard
Commenting on the recent grant award from Scottish Enterprise, C2C managing director Brian Barnard said: "We are delighted to have received this substantial grant from Scottish Enterprise and are looking forward to the testing of our device later in the year.
"There appears to be a real appetite for tidal power right now, perhaps due to the predictability of this type of energy conversion.
"We believe C2C is well placed to become a market leader in the production of renewable electricity and ultimately reaching our goal in helping to bridge the predicted energy gap, whilst reducing the nation’s carbon emissions."
As covered by CommonSpace, tidal energy devices generate electricity from ocean currents and tides, converting the kinetic energy in the moving water into grid connected electricity.
The company C2C was set up in 2007 to design and build tidal devices to harness the energy of water movements as currents flow in and out of tidal areas around the coast of Scotland.
The director of C2C emphasised the importance of being a company based in the north east of the country given the lagging performance of oil and gas in recent months and the huge potential of coastal areas in that part of the country.
"We believe C2C is well placed to become a market leader in the production of renewable electricity and ultimately reaching our goal in helping to bridge the predicted energy gap, whilst reducing the nation’s carbon emissions." Brian Bernard
Jim Watson, director of innovation and enterprise services at Scottish Enterprise, said: "As Scotland’s innovation agency, we want every company in every sector to embrace innovation and reap the benefits it brings.
"It’s fantastic to see companies like C2C developing products that have the potential to generate significant revenue as part of their ambitious global growth plans. We wish them every success with this project."
In related news, Atlantis Resources another Scottish marine energy company recently made an announcement covered by CommonSpace about its MeyGen subsea tidal power station this week.
In its announcement it stated that Scotland will be home to the world’s first ever large-scale tidal stream farm.
Picture courtesy of Kevin McManus
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