Scottish Company Secures EU Support to Construct One of the Largest Tidal Farms Worldwide

Nova Innovation, a Scottish company, has secured European Union funding to construct Seastar, one of the world's largest tidal farms, off Orkney's coast.

This farm is poised to hold a record-breaking number of turbines, signaling a pivotal advancement in harnessing renewable ocean energy to combat climate change.

The EU's Horizon Europe program, aimed at promoting innovation, is bankrolling this ambitious endeavor. This project will also prompt the mass production of turbines at Nova's Edinburgh headquarters.

During a visit to Nova, Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf highlighted Scotland's leadership in marine renewable energy, noting the country's consistent support and the sector's innovative contributions.

The Seastar initiative, to be located at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney, is expected to build upon the successes of the Shetland Tidal Array – the world's initial offshore tidal energy farm that has been operational since 2016. Nova asserts to have improved technology while cutting tidal energy costs by 40%.

Nova's CEO, Simon Forrest, regards the EU support as a significant endorsement for the tidal energy industry, showcasing success in creating a pan-European supply chain. By installing more turbines than all other existing projects combined, Nova aims to scale production and further reduce costs.

The company estimates that tidal energy could satisfy 11% of the UK's electricity needs and anticipates the global market could reach approximately £125 billion by 2050.