World’s first community tidal turbine for Shetland
September 5, 2011 | 
Author Yell tidal scheme could be grid connected by the end of the year
The remote and windswept island of Yell in Shetland is preparing to install a community turbine. Not unusual news these days – except that this is not a wind turbine, this will be the world’s first community owned tidal turbine.
The turbine is being built by Nova Innovation, a tidal generation company based in Leith whose mission is to deliver tidal power for communities and businesses, offering full ‘water to wire’ solutions developed in partnership with their clients. The choice of Shetland as the site for the first scheme was encouraged by Nova’s successful partnership with local company Shetland Composites, who manufactured the blades for the turbine.
Nova Innovation has secured all consents, a sea-bed lease and funding to install the world’s first community owned tidal turbine in Bluemull Sound between Yell and Unst later this year. The grid connected device will supply tidal generated electricity to one of Scotland’s most remote communities, boosting regeneration and helping to drive Scotland’s marine renewables sector forward.
North Yell Development Council raised the £168,000 cost of the scheme through grants from Community Energy Scotland, Shetland Islands Council and HIE Shetland.
Now the final hurdle for the scheme is the granting of a grid connection by Scottish and Southern Energy, which operates the Shetland grid. The variability of renewables and the isolation of the Shetland grid means the connection of any substantial renewable capacity presents problems, but the issue is in hand. The NINES project (Northern Isles New Energy Solutions) will apply new technology to facilitate balancing the peaks and troughs of energy usage in the islands, and will allow access to the system for more renewable energy projects.
Simon Forest, a spokesman for Nova Innovations, commented: “The 30-kilowatt device will be grid-connected, powering a local ice plant and industrial estate and helping to regenerate the fragile economy of North Yell – one of Europe’s most remote communities. Final commissioning is set for the end of 2011, making it the world’s first community-owned tidal scheme.”
“A grassroots movement combining a progressive community and local authority, with the support and guidance of Community Energy Scotland, has enabled this innovative and cutting-edge tidal technology project to become reality. The successful project will herald a new model for tidal development where all the benefits go to the community through their ownership of the tidal power scheme.”
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