By Kari Williamson

Aquamarine Power CEO, Martin McAdam, writes in a blog: “This is great news – it is clear evidence Scotland is not only leading the way in marine energy technology, but shows that regulator Marine Scotland is putting in place the timely and efficient consent and permitting processes which will enable our industry to grow.

“Consents are vital. A clear pathway to all the necessary permits for marine energy development is one of the critical enablers for a business such as ours, and countries which lack a transparent and timely system will fall behind.”

The first Oyster 800 wave power device was installed in September 2011, and the consent means the company can now install a further two 800 kW Oyster wave energy devices at the same site at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.

Energy Minster Fergus Ewing, says: "Scotland has unparalleled natural resources, with a tenth of Europe's wave power, and these new devices will help us to fully harness the huge energy resources around our own coast and contribute to global efforts to expand clean, green electricity generation.

"Scotland is in the midst of a renewables revolution, and it is innovation and creativity such as that behind the Oyster device which will help us meet our ambitious renewable electricity targets and help us re-industrialise Scotland."