European Marine Energy Centre

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Ltd. is the world's leading test and research centre focused on wave and tidal power development, based in the Orkney Islands off the mainland of Scotland. The centre provides developers with the opportunity to test full-scale grid-connected prototype devices in wave and tidal conditions, at pre-consented test sites. EMEC also has sites for testing smaller-scale prototypes, as well as subsystems and components, in more sheltered conditions. In addition to EMEC's wave and tidal sites, EMEC has an onshore R&D facility in Eday, next to the tidal energy test site, where projects looking at renewables and energy systems integration take place. EMEC has hosted projects exploring green hydrogen, battery storage, e-fuels, refuelling technologies and data centres. EMEC was established in 2003 by a grouping of public sector organisations following a recommendation by the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee in 2001. In addition to providing access to areas of the sea with high wave and tidal energy potential, the centre also offers various kinds of support regarding regulatory issues, grid connection, and meteorological monitoring, as well as local research and engineering support.