Our Pelamis project makes our first significant investment in wave power. The 750kW Pelamis P2 device will be installed and tested at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney this summer, making us the first utility company to test a marine energy device at EMEC, which is the only grid connected marine test facility in Europe.

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond officially launched and named the Vagr Atferd (Norse for wave power) wave energy converter on 18 May 2010.

At the launch ceremony at Leith Port in Edinburgh, Dr Paul Golby, Chief Executive of E.ON UK, said: "We're delighted to be a part of such an innovative project. The event marks a milestone in marine technology and the next exciting step for renewable energy in the UK.

"It's essential that we continue to invest in new technologies, like the Vagr Atferd, to harness the power of nature and to accelerate our transition to a low carbon economy".

"Today's launch is a celebration of the successes we've seen with renewables and a clear example of the changing shape of the UK energy industry - there is a real potential for the UK to lead the marine energy sector."

The installation of the Pelamis wave energy converter at EMEC will be the first time that the P2 machine has been tested anywhere in the world and also represents the UK's first commercial supply contract within the marine energy sector.

Rt Hon Alex Salmond, the First Minister of Scotland, said: "Scotland is well-placed to become the clean, green energy powerhouse of Europe, with as much as 10 percent of its wave power potential, as well as an estimated one quarter of the continent's offshore wind and tidal energy capacity."

The machine was named by Matthew Rendall of Stromness Primary School in Orkney, following a competition. Matthew and his family joined the First Minister at the port where he officially launched and named the device.

The success of this device test will provide us with the confidence to move to the next phase of commercialisation of this emerging technology which is larger arrays around the UK coastline.

Fact file

• The machine is designed to produce up to 750kW of power
• It has been entirely designed and built in the UK
• Over 200 people have been involved in the build programme
• At 180m long, the Pelamis machine is as long as the Gherkin building in London is tall
• The machine weighs approximately 1,300 tonnes
• EMEC is about 200 nautical miles from Edinburgh
• The Pelamis name comes from a species of sea snake

Pelamis wave energy project information sheet (PDF, 978KB)