Scotland's first marine energy park will be opened today.

UK Energy Minister Greg Barker will cut the ribbon on the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Energy Park, a designated zone planners hope will boost further investment in the wave and tidal power industry.

Developers will build up to 1.6GW of marine energy capacity there, making it the largest wave and tidal development in the world.

It is designed to link private companies with university researchers.

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The park will also incorporate the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), which is currently testing nine devices.

According to the Carbon Trust, 46 different wave and tidal power devices are already under development in the UK, making it streaks ahead of any other country worldwide.

Sam Gardner of WWF Scotland told the BBC this was "an exciting development and a further opportunity for Scotland’s marine renewable sector to develop wave and tidal devices".

He said: "With careful planning we can harness Scotland's wave and tidal energy to help cut our climate emissions, while safeguarding the nation's tremendous marine environment."

According to the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change, energy from the waves or tides has the potential to generate up to 27GW of power in the UK alone by 2050, equivalent to the power generated from eight coal-fired power stations.

(NE)