By Kari Williamson

The ECCC recently announced an inquiry into wave and tidal energy, investigating its potential to contribute towards the UK’s renewables and emissions targets. The Scottish Government has set a target of 100% of the country's electricity to be generated from renewable sources by 2020.

EMEC's Managing Director, Neil Kermode, says: “EMEC is the world’s only test laboratory for full scale wave and tidal energy converters. As a result it is hosting most of the leading technologies in the field and consequently is able to offer informed observation of the sector.

“The UK is leading the world in the race to develop and deploy wave and tidal energy converters. The scale of activity is envied elsewhere and real progress is being made due, in no small part, to consistent non-partisan support by government over a number of years.”

Tim Yeo, Conservative MP for Suffolk South and Chairman of the ECCC, adds: "This is the beginning of an important investigation process and we are delighted to have had the opportunity to visit EMEC, meeting its team and also the developers involved in what are very exciting, innovative projects here on Orkney."