Orkney-based environmental services firm Aquatera has secured a consultancy contract for a major tidal energy project in Japan.

The company will carry out an environmental impact assessment for underwater turbines in Nagasaki as part of its proposed tidal test site.

The contract was confirmed as External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop met with Toshiyuki Sakai, Head of the Nagasaki Marine Industry Cluster Promotion Association, at the 'Scotland House' renewables hub today, 16 February.

The facility acts as a co-location space for Scottish and Japanese marine renewables companies.

Speaking at the hub, Mr Sakai said Scottish companies are leaders in the marine renewable energy industry.

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"Nagasaki is now in the process of setting up its marine renewable energy industry," he said. "Our industry has a lot to learn from Scottish companies who are leaders in this field. Through collaboration and the exchange of people and information between Nagasaki and Scotland we want to work hard together for mutual success."

Ms Hyslop said: "Scotland shares a bright future with Japan with regard to renewable energy. I opened Scotland House when I was last here in 2015, and since then, at least seven Scottish companies have been hosted there to share their expertise. This says much about Japan's esteem for our knowledge in this area.

"Scotland boasts flagship projects in this sector and we have a lot to offer countries like Japan – we are home to the world's leading wave and tidal test centre, the world's largest planned tidal stream array and the world's largest tidal turbine."

Gareth Davies, Managing Director of Aquatera, concluded: "Aquatera are delighted to be supporting the Nagasaki Cluster and the wider project team in this exciting work.

"We hope that the work we jointly undertake will help establish best practice for this pioneering tidal test site and for many future projects across a variety of sites and technologies."

(LM/JP)