Scotland must harvest energy from the seas around its coastline if it is to build an important new industry.

That is the view of an Edinburgh-based company which is urging the Scottish Government to ensure domestic companies are able to take full advantage of the country’s other energy source.

Aquamarine Power has installed a pioneering wave power device off Orkney.

The device – named ‘Oyster’ - is to undergo sea trials at Orkney's European Marine Energy Centre.

Massive machinery and the right weather conditions were needed to get the 200-tonne device into the sea - something the firm had never attempted before.

Oyster project manager Frances Tierney said: "It was a very nerve-wracking experience, I must admit. We all had a few sleepless nights over this, but it was such a relief when we actually managed to do it because this was the biggy - we had to get this in and this was the major challenge."

Oyster is now bolted to the seabed ready for the final stage of the installation process. It will be used to capture energy from passing waves and if successful will create both jobs and exports for Scotland.

Aquamarine Power chief executive officer Martin McAdam said: "It's about commercialising that idea. And our history on that hasn't been that great.

“We've allowed other countries to come in and take over and develop the technology and get the benefit for that. And I would not like to see that happen here.

“We have a small window of opportunity and over the coming years we need to be working with Government, working with the other partners and ensuring we create this industry for Scotland and the UK."

For now a critical phase has been completed as the company prepares to put Oyster through its paces.

The technology now faces a double challenge. It has to survive in what can be extreme sea conditions as well as generating electricity for the national grid.

The company has identified that as the ultimate test and it is confident it will happen later this year.