Responding, Amy Keast, Senior Policy Manager at Scottish Renewables, said:
“Orbital Marine Power’s Westray project is yet another example of how much potential there is in Scotland for the development of tidal energy technology.
“At Scottish Renewables, we are particularly pleased to see that construction of this project will see a significant spend of over £120 million in the Scottish supply chain as well as provide around a dozen permanent jobs for people in Orkney who will be needed to service the project once operational.
“A recent decision to connect Orkney to the mainland with a new power cable was instrumental in making sure this pioneering project could proceed, and shows that the renewable energy industry in Scotland can deliver so much when developers have certainty that they will be able to connect their project to the electricity network.
“Today’s announcement is not just brilliant news for Orbital Marine Power but for the entire renewable energy industry, and this project shows the lengths to which tidal energy can contribute to net-zero, local employment and energy security.”
