When the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) was established by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and its funding partners in 2003, it was with the intention of stimulating and accelerating the development of both wave and tidal prototype energy generating devices. The wave test centre is now well established, and the next phase is to establish a consented tidal test site ready for deployment by developers in the near future.

The test facility will comprise a new control building in a plot adjacent to Cauldale on Eday, and there will be four export cables between 3,000m and 4,000m in length connecting to the four offshore test berths where prototype devices will be attached in the future.

An environmental impact assessment for the tidal test facility, including a number of baseline and supporting studies, and the production of an environmental statement was undertaken.

Link to: Environmental statement and supporting studies