Grampian-based marine energy company launches into the growing Scottish tidal power ‘gold rush’ with £260,000 investment in new wave converter

A Scottish marine energy company is investing £260,000 over the next six months to test the production-scale feasibility of the new tidal energy convertor it is building in rural Grampian.

Generating electricity from ocean currents and tides, the convertor uses the kinetic energy in moving water, transforming it into useful electricity. 

Current2Current was set up in 2007 to design and build a tidal device to harness the energy of water movements as currents flow in and out of tidal areas.

Current2Current has also received matching funding from a private investor following a £100,000 grant from the Scottish government.

A simple construction, the omni-directional converter works on the principle of redirecting the flow vertically through a shrouded turbine.

Having already produced electricity in the North Sea using a prototype platform, C2C Ltd is now preparing an extended test program, whilst at the same time powering ahead with the development of TEC-4, a pre-production prototype device.

Brian Barnard, Managing Director of C2C, which is based in Inverurie, said: “We are looking forward to the testing of our device later this year. 

“There appears to be a real appetite for tidal power right now, perhaps due to the predictability of this type of energy conversion” <compared to surface-based wave power machines>

“With commercialisation just around the corner, we intend to capture a significant share of the market with novel use of innovative technology.

“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.”

• Meanwhile, Atlantis Resources – the stock-market listed Colossus of Scottish marine energy – is due to make a major announcement on its MeyGen subsea tidal power station next week.