New green power project using tidal energy could power third of homes on Shetland Islands

A new green power project that could potentially provide enough electricity for a third of the households on the Shetland Islands has been hailed as an “important milestone” in the availability of tidal power.

Planned for the Yell Sound in Shetland between the islands of Yell and Bigga, the 15 megawatt tidal energy array will be Nova Innovation’s largest to date.

The development comes after the company was awarded an option agreement from the Crown Estate.

Neighbouring Bluemull Sound is already home to Nova’s world first offshore tidal array which has been producing green electricity since 2016.

And Nova chief executive says the new project puts Shetland “at the forefront of the green energy revolution”.

Simon Forrest said: “Building on Shetland’s success with the world’s first offshore tidal array in Bluemull Sound, we are delighted to be working with local partners to deliver another world-leading project.

“Having been at the centre of the oil and gas industry for 50 years, Shetland is now at the forefront of the green energy revolution, and we are excited to play our part in decarbonising the Shetland Islands.”

Energy secretary Michael Matheson welcomed the development, saying: “This agreement between Nova Innovation and Crown Estate Scotland marks another important milestone in commercialising tidal energy in Scotland, putting Shetland at the heart of this exciting technology and its capability to deliver secure and reliable clean energy to support our climate targets.

“With our abundant natural resources and expertise, Scotland is ideally placed to harness the global market for marine energy whilst helping deliver a net-zero economy both here and across the world.”

Sian Wilson, head of emerging technology at Crown Estate Scotland, said: “We’re pleased to support the marine energy sector, and efforts by island communities such as the Shetland Islands to decarbonise their energy systems.

“It’s important for Scotland to have a diverse renewable energy supply to deliver on the country’s net zero ambitions in the coming decades and predictable tidal power at scale will play a valuable part in achieving that goal.”