APPENDIX 4
Memorandum submitted by Forward Scotland
Forward Scotland is a leading Scottish Sustainable
Development organisation and as such has a keen interest in renewable
energy and energy efficiency as important factors in our overall
efforts toward sustainable development. I enclose a copy of our
own Annual Review for your information[3].
Regarding wave and tidal energy:
— Forward Scotland is a member of the
Wave Commission; a cross-sectorial group focused on meeting the
challenges inherent in the development of wave energy.
— Forward Scotland is a member of the
Scottish Parliament Renewable Energy Group established to address
the challenges inherent in the establishment of renewable energy
technologies. This of course includes wave and tidal energies
among others.
— Forward Scotland is a key member
of the Islay Development Company, which has played a role in the
establishment of the world's first commercial prototype onshore
wave energy device.
Forward Scotland has no special technical knowledge
in the field of wave or tidal energy and so I am uncertain whether
this letter will constitute evidence in the committee's terms.
I would, however, like to make three main observations.
— The establishment of the wave device
on Islay follows earlier technical trials which proved the technology
viable.
The extent to which the technology becomes commercially
viable will depend on a number of factors: including relative
price per generated unit of electricity and the capital cost of
development.
With the establishment of this wave device,
Scotland, and indeed Great Britain, is the world leader in this
technology. This lead will need to be supported if it is not to
be lost to others interested in this technology. The research
and development and physical infrastructure must be developed
to support this emerging market technology so that wave energy
technology becomes a major UK export.
Questions on the development of the technology
as an industrial sector are sometimes limited to the availability
of the grid to take power from the periphery to the centre. The
utility of the grid in this respect is an important medium term
consideration. However, it must be considered somewhat separately
from the pressing need to support the development of wave and
tidal energy as emerging industries with their potential for research
and development, employment, export and so on.
— Consideration should be given to
a stronger role for wave and tidal energy. The potential energy
contained in the sea off Britain's coast is enormous. The potential
off the coast of Islay alone is estimated at 225 mg watts.
— An important consideration here is
that wave devices have a small and unobtrusive footprint compared
to other energy technologies. Onshore wave devices have no impact
on shipping and are barely visible except from close quarters.
To summarise, Great Britain now has the potential
to consolidate its potential as a world leader in this field.
The benefits will include a growing export industry, new jobs,
a more sustainable energy supply and increased respect for Great
Britain from abroad.
3 Not printed. Back
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