Scottish marine energy experts are to advise scientists in South Korea on how to build a tidal energy testing facility.

The project will be the third partnership between Orkney-based EMEC (European Marine Energy Centre) and a Far Eastern project.

EMEC has signed a memorandum of understanding with Incheon Metropolitan City (IMC), in north-western South Korea, to provide technical assistance on the design, construction and operation of a similar facility to its own in the North Sea.

The South Korean city wants to harness the energy of the sea off its western coast. EMEC's involvement follows on from similar memoranda signed with the Ocean University China, the Japanese Marine Energy Centre and the Pacific Marine Energy Centre in Oregon, USA.


Experts from EMEC have successfully supported the deployment of more grid-connected devices at its full-scale wave and tidal testing facilities, than at any other single site in the world.

Established in 2003, EMEC is the only accredited wave and tidal test centre for marine renewable energy worldwide.

Moung Jo Cho, director general of economic hub promotion for Incheon Metropolitan City, said: "EMEC's expertise will be of great assistance to the work being carried out in IMC to construct a test facility for tidal current energy devices in what are very tough waters, and their experience of testing and operations in harsh environments is of great interest to us. International collaboration is very important to the success of the global renewable industry and we are proud to be working together."

(NE)