The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has been shortlisted for the ‘Blue Economy Business of the Year’ award at the European Commission’s Blue Economy Business Awards 2016. Organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE), the Blue Economy Business Awards aim to showcase excellent practices from industry, honouring those who have made a specific contribution to bringing and developing innovation in the blue economy.
EMEC said in a statement that, to date, more marine energy companies have demonstrated their pioneering wave and tidal energy technologies at EMEC than at any other single site in the world (16 wave and tidal energy clients, spanning nine European countries, having demonstrated 25 marine energy devices in Orkney waters). This number will further increase this year as Sustainable Marine Energy’s PLAT-O and Scotrenewables Tidal Power’s SR2000 become the 26th and 27th technologies to be tested at EMEC.
EMEC Commercial Director Oliver Wragg said in the statement that the Centre was delighted to be nominated for this award. “When EMEC was established in 2003 it had two objectives: harness the power of the waves and tides that surround the UK and Europe; and stimulate economic development in coastal European communities. Orkney now acts as a brilliant case study for the economic benefits that can be achieved through the activities taking place in and around a test facility – activities that if developed to a larger scale will form a new sustainable industry for the blue economy,” he said.
Commenting on the awards, Karmenu Vella, European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs & Fisheries said that the Blue Economy Business Awards aimed to shine a light on success stories, to show how marine and maritime businesses in Europe could stimulate the creation and exchange of knowledge, and promote innovation and new technologies for the benefit of our society.
The winner of the award will be announced at an awards ceremony on 12 September in Hamburg during the first summit of the Blue Economy Business and Science Forum.