European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC)

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) is a UKAS accredited test and research centre focusing on wave and tidal power development based in the Orkney Islands, UK. It claims to provide developers with the opportunity to test full-scale grid-connected prototype devices in unrivalled wave and tidal conditions.^[1] The operations are spread over three sites:

• Billia Croo, Mainland (wave power)
• Fall of Warness, off the island of Eday (tidal power)
• Stromness (office and data facilities)

EMEC was established by a grouping of public sector organisations following a recommendation by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee in 2001. The centre offers, apart from access to water with high wave and tidal energy potential, various kinds of support regarding regulatory issues, grid connection and meteorological monitoring as well as local research and engineering support.