Sep 29 - Birmingham Post; Birmingham (UK)

The world's largest tidal-powered energy farm could be built in British waters, it was announced today.

Three sites are under investigation - two off Scotland and one off the coast of Northern Ireland - for up to 60 underwater turbines, generating 60 mega watts of power for 40,000 homes.

ScottishPower, the energy firm behind the plans, said the technology could make Scotland the global leader in the field.

Director of the firm's renewable arm Keith Anderson said: "This is a historic day for the development of marine energy.

"The rapid technological advancement of tidal power has enabled us to progress plans for this substantial project which has the real potential to deliver significant environmental and economic benefits."

The announcement came as the Crown Office opened parts of the seabed for leasing to developers.

The tide-turbines are expected to be anchored to the floor of the sea in the Pentland Firth between the Scottish mainland and Orkney, in the Sound of Islay and off the coast of Country Antrim, Northern Ireland.

The structures stand 30 metres tall on three legs and can work as deep as 100 metres below sea level with the ability to turn to harness tide movements.

The 20-metre blades would turn at least 10 metres below the surface to avoid shipping, developers said.

The zones would be banned to trawlers for safety reasons.

ScottishPower said tests which had taken place in Norway proved the turbine blades moved slowly enough for marine life to avoid them. A prototype turbine, called Lanstrom, was inspected over four years at Hammerfest and would be replicated for the proposed development.

Mr Anderson said: "Tidal power is completely renewable, being driven by the gravity of the sun and moon, with no carbon dioxide emissions, whilst being entirely predictable in nature.

"Scotland has the best resources in Europe with the Pentland Firth alone containing enough tidal energy to meet a third of Scotland's power requirements."

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said the Crown Office was playing a part in making the country Europe's "green capital" by opening the seabed to developers.

His SNP administration is opposed to new nuclear power stations and set a target to meet 50 per cent of electricity demand from renewables by 2020.

Mr Salmond said: "The scale of existing activity and investment is hugely exciting.

"I want to maximise the opportunities and economic benefits for Scotland and convert the rapid technological advances and green energy potential into a flow of investment for generations to come."

He said Scottish seas could provide 25 per cent of Europe's tidal power and 10 per cent of wave power.

Mr Salmond said: "The potential of the Pentland Firth is quite staggering.

"Well known for centuries among mariners as a rough and foreboding sea, I believe that its awesome power will soon come to be seen across the world as the centre piece of global efforts to take green energy from waves and tides."

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