The Shetland offshore tidal energy project Enabling Future Arrays in Tidal (EnFAIT) has achieved a 15% operational cost reduction since its commencement in July 2017, it was announced on 22 May.
The project is being led by Edinburgh-based Nova Innovation and funded through £17mn of Horizon 2020 EU funding. Its aim is to trial offshore tidal energy production at the Shetland site and drive down operational costs through learning from optimal arrangements, improved measurement and forecasting of tidal flows. Nova Innovation estimates a possible 40% cost reduction by the end of the project in June 2022.
Chief Executive Officer at Nova Innovation, Simon Forrest, said: “Even at this early stage of the project, we have achieved significant cost reduction successes, and EnFAIT is already helping to map out the world’s most extensive tidal power supply chain across Europe. The UK has been a pioneer in developing this new industry: we remain the global leader in the development of tidal technologies, and the burgeoning supply chain in Scotland and across Europe demonstrates the economic benefits this sector can bring”.
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