Green Ocean Energy Hosts First Minister Visit

Thursday, 18 February 2010

North east wave power company Green Ocean Energy hosted a visit by Scotland’s First Minister today.

Rt Hon Alex Salmond was given a guided tour of the company’s workshop in Albyn Place, Aberdeen and spent time talking to the team behind the cutting edge company. Green Ocean Energy is currently developing a full scale prototype of its groundbreaking Wave Treader device which attaches to an offshore wind turbine to generate combined wind and wave energy.

Mr Salmond MSP chose the visit to launch the SNP’s campaign to release funding at Westminster to generate more renewable jobs in Aberdeen and across Scotland, as well as highlighting SNP efforts to promote the sector.

He said: “Scotland won the natural lottery once with North Sea oil and we now have the potential to lead the world again with renewables.

“Aberdeen is the oil and gas capital of Europe and has a wealth of knowledge and a world renowned skills base. That expertise is now being deployed as we work to make Scotland the clean, green energy hub of Europe.

“To make that ambition a reality, our infrastructure must be further developed. The value of the Fossil Fuel fund has virtually trebled since 2007, and with it the potential for Scotland to invest in our green energy Future.”

Green Ocean Energy is currently in the final stages of analysing test results of a scale model of Wave Treader and construction of a full scale prototype is expected to begin this Spring. The company is currently in discussion to secure an offshore site for Wave Treader to be deployed and tested and the technology is expected to reach commercialisation by 2014.

Graeme Bell, CEO of Green Ocean Energy said: “There is huge potential for Scotland’s wave and tidal companies to play a leading role in this global sector but we need to have access to investment to enable us to develop the necessary technology and skills.

“We were delighted to have the opportunity to explain the work we’re currently involved with to the First Minister and had useful discussions with him about the ways the Scottish Government is supporting this emerging industry. These are very exciting times for Green Ocean Energy – we are hoping to begin testing of our full scale prototype later this year and move forward towards commercialisation.”

Green Ocean Energy has also developed a device which forms a fully floating offshore wave farm. Ocean Treader uses similar technology to Wave Treader and is being progressed in parallel with Wave Treader.