The Isle of Lewis may have just seen plans for a huge onshore wind farm rejected, but the island's prospects as a renewable energy hub are not dead in the water just yet after energy giant Npower submitted a planning application for a pilot wave-energy project.
Npower Renewables proposes working with Inverness-based firm Wavegen to install a 4MW system based on "oscillating waster column" technology in Lewis' Siadar Bay.
If planning approval is granted, work on the system will begin in 2009 and is expected to last 18 months. The project would see the construction of a special breakwater containing a series of turbines and air chambers. The waves force air through the chambers, driving the turbines.
"This is an important stepping stone to realising larger wave-energy projects around European coastal regions," said Kevin McCullough, chief operating officer at RWE Innogy, the renewable energy division of Npower's parent company RWE, adding that the project would deliver enough energy to meet the annual power needs of about 1,500 homes on the Isles of Lewis and Harris.
The move follows a similar project between Npower and Bristol-based wave-energy specialist Marine Current Turbines, to build one of the world's first commercial wave farms off the coast of Anglesey in north Wales.
However, it remains to be seen if planning permission for the Lewis project will be granted. Last week the Scottish government refused planning permission to a proposed 650MW wind farm after residents complained about the potential impact on local ecosystems.
Industry body warns planning rejection could force some UK wind farm operators to look overseas for investment opportunities 21 Apr 2008
Wind farm planning bottlenecks likely to worsen as report claims Ministry of Defence is stiffening its opposition to turbines that could interfere with radar systems 04 Feb 2008Could floating wind farms one day solve offshore planning headaches? 07 Apr 2008
Marine Current Turbines is poised to install its 1.2MW SeaGen system at Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland and connect it to the grid 12 Feb 2008
Intelligent Energy ramps up funding for R&D and partnerships 04 Jul 2008
Focus on energy savings through fuel efficiency for homes and public and commercial buildings 04 Jul 2008
ActionAid accuses G8 of driving more people into poverty by pursing biofuels and cutting agri-aid 04 Jul 2008
More news
Businesses' new found focus on the environment may be welcome, but according to Conrad MacKerron, it is taking attention away from workers' rights issues – and the credibility of the entire green business movement could be at risk 03 Jul 2008
It may be a year old, but as Dell's Jonathan Perry explains, firms looking to get rid of their old IT kit still need to pay attention to the WEEE directive 02 Jul 2008
Telling customers about your environmental targets is all well and good but, as Paul Thomas argues, they are meaningless if you do not know how they are to be achieved 01 Jul 2008 More in-depth
Post your comment
Send an email to the Business Green editor at feedback@businessgreen.com
