Orkney’s maritime history has seen many pioneers and now Orkney is leading the world in the development of wave and tidal energy projects.  Its expert mariners, wild seas and fast tides are legendary.  In the first leasing round for commercial marine energy projects, eight out of ten of the sites put forward by the Crown Estate for development are in Orkney waters.  Test beds are located off the island of Eday, Burra Sound and at Billia Croo near Stromness and Orkney waters have been used for trials of many devices.  Leasing projects are being developed at Brough Head, Costa Head, Marwick Head, Cantick Head, West Orkney, Brough Ness and Westray South.  All this means international attention has been focused on Orkney in the marine renewables industry as a world hub.  Orkney Islands Council is developing pier and harbour infrastructures at the Golden Wharf in Lyness, Stromness and Hatston in Kirkwall to attract marine energy developers.  Local expertise through consultants, university researchers and postgraduate students based here and the many maritime support services in which Orkney excels are helping to meet the challenges of this new industry. Local marine services involved include scuba diving, ship to ship transfers, cable laying, towage, surveying and delivering equipment, and related jobs are being created in Orkney.  Every effort will be made to ensure that  the marine environment does not suffer as a result of wave and tidal devices and research into the potential impact on wildlife and underwater archaeology is ongoing.

Fuel poverty because of the high price paid for energy in the islands is being tackled by individual communities in Orkney. There are several community wind turbines generating income for communities such as on Westray and more in the pipeline.  Powerdown officers are tasked with helping their communities harness and conserve energy.  Five turbines form a commercial wind farm at Hammars Hill in Evie, the Burray turbine was one of the first in Orkney, more turbine power schemes are being developed and many businesses and homeowners have gained grants to erect small turbines which reduce electricity bills. Orkney Energy Agency is working with development trusts and islanders to reduce energy costs, increase efficiency, access funding and reduce carbon footprints.  A key player in Orkney’s energy revolution is Orkney Renewable Energy Forum.

Other renewable energy innovations include work at the Agronomy Institute at Orkney College UHI including trials of fast-growing Reed Canary Grass as a potential fuel, and a biomass investigation of willow.