Site Manager
PRIMRE/Databases/Projects Database/Test Sites/EMEC Shapinsay Sound Tidal Test Site
From Open Energy Information
< PRIMRE | Databases | Projects Database | Test Sites
EMEC Shapinsay Sound Tidal Test Site
The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Shapinsay Sound tidal test site provides accessible at-sea testing options for subscale devices. The site is located in Shapinsay Sound, to the north-east of Kirkwall. The testing area is 0.4 km by 0.9 km, situated in water depths of 21 - 25m, with typical spring tides of 1.1 m/s, typical neap tides of 0.4 m/s and peak tides of 1.5 m/s. The maximum tidal range is 3.5 m.
While the Shapinsay Sound tidal test site is not grid-connected, EMEC provides support to set-up a microgrid to simulate grid connection. If required, the device under test will be connected to the test support buoy via two umbilical cables: one for power transmission and the other for control and communications. The buoy can relay data by wireless technology allowing developers to monitor performance remotely, as well as dissipating electricity generated by the device. The buoy is also equipped to supply the marine energy devices on test with power and act as navigational aids.
Each berth has a pre-laid foundation and attachment points, and an adjacent test area. The pre-laid foundations comprise 5m x 5m x 2m gravity-base frames loaded with densecrete blocks for equipment moorings. The area of seabed is also available for rehearsal or deployment of other tools and techniques.
Additional Information
Device Status
Is the test site actively testing or in planning (active)? Or is it permanently closed for business (inactive)?
Active
Energy Resource
- Tidal
Duration
2011 -
Ongoing
Grid Connectivity
Not Grid Connected
Number of Berths
2
Waterbody
Shapinsay Sound, Scotland
Site Characteristics
Geographic characterization for the test site location:
- Open Ocean: Main body of ocean, not enclosed or partially enclosed by land
- Coastal: Open water near the coast, spanning between land and shelf boundary
- Enclosed Bay: water that is partially surrounded by land, with a mouth open to larger water
- Constricted Channel: A channel where water flows quickly due to narrowing by the land
- River: Water flowing from land towards a larger body of water
Enclosed Bay
Country
United Kingdom
Environmental Details
Last Modified
29 May 2025
This Test Site has the following MRE Devices
Filters:
Citation Formats
“EMEC Shapinsay Sound Tidal Test Site.” Marine Energy Projects Database: Test Sites, PRIMRE, United States Department of Energy, https://openei.org/wiki/PRIMRE/Databases/Projects_Database/Test_Sites/EMEC_Shapinsay_Sound_Tidal_Test_Site. Accessed <day> <monthRoman> <year>.
Marine Energy Projects Database: Test Sites. <year>. "EMEC Shapinsay Sound Tidal Test Site." Accessed <monthRoman> <day>, <year>. https://openei.org/wiki/PRIMRE/Databases/Projects_Database/Test_Sites/EMEC_Shapinsay_Sound_Tidal_Test_Site.
"<span class="smw-highlighter" data-type="4" data-state="inline" data-title="Error"><span class="smwtticon warning"></span><div class="smwttcontent">Some use of "<nowiki>&#x005B;&#x005B;</nowiki>" in your query was not closed by a matching "]]".</div></span>" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.