Latest News

July 2011

Environmental Impact Assessment Scoping Studies about to commence

We are still very early on in the development process for our Orkney Waters Projects and have just entered into the first part of the Environmental Scoping Assessment. This is the process of identifying (in consultation with Marine Scotland, other statutory consultees and interested parties) the content and extent of the Environmental Information to be submitted to Marine Scotland under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure.

Click here to learn more about the licencing and consenting process (PDF, 110KB)

E.ON Supports Orkney Sail Trainees in the 2011 Tall Ships Challenge

  Click here for the full story (PDF, 100KB)

In March 2010 we were awarded leases for two wave energy sites in the world's first wave and tidal energy leasing programme in Scotland, managed by The Crown Estate.

The Crown Estate awarded ten leases in total for the development of around 1.2GW of wave and tidal power projects, enough to meet the electricity needs of up to 750,000 homes.

E.ON partook in a rigorous bidding process before we secured the two sites in West Orkney. We were able to successfully demonstrate a serious strategic intent in the marine sector and commitment to renewables through the successful delivery of our offshore renewable projects.

Over the following months we will be embarking on a programme of development activities and studies designed to help us to better understand the physical character of the sites, the energy resource and potential environmental impacts; this will enable us to design the wave farms in the most efficient and environmentally sustainable way.

The development activities and site studies will be supported by an in-depth monitoring programme being undertaken on our Pelamis test project 'Vagr Atferd' at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.

Keeping you informed

Throughout the development process E.ON will work with various stakeholders including the Scottish Government, Local Planning Authorities, local communities, nature conservation bodies and sea users.

We're committed to keeping you in the know by providing you with regular project updates via this webpage and other communication channels throughout the development process.

We also plan to hold information days and public exhibitions within Orkney once we better understand the site characteristics. These will be advertised in the local press, online and via door to door invitations.

Once we've concluded our studies and engagement activities, we will be required to make an application to Marine Scotland for the necessary licenses that will allow us to construct and operate the wave farms.

The application will present the final wave farm designs and the findings of a full Environment Impact Assessment. There will be opportunity for you to comment on the application, this will be advertised at the point of submission.

If you have any questions relating to this project, wave and tidal energy in general or would simple like to register your support, please email marine.energy@eon-uk.com. Or write to

Joanne Frost
Marine Project Developer
E.ON Climate and Renewables
Westwood Way
Coventry
CV4 8LG