Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has officially launched the £10 million Saltire Prize challenge to develop a renewable marine technology that could unleash the region’s potential.
“Scotland has one quarter of Europe’s tidal power potential; the Pentland Firth is our Saudi Arabia of renewable marine energy,” said Salmond.
The prize will be awarded to the team that demonstrates a commercially viable wave or tidal energy technology in Scottish waters capable of generating 100 GWH over a continuous two-year period.
“The Saltire Prize challenge aims to accelerate the rate at which wave and tidal technologies can deliver power output that will represent real commercial opportunity. And make a meaningful contribution to Scotland’s ambitious renewable energy and carbon emissions targets,” said Anne Glover, Scotland’s scientific adviser and chair of the prize committee.
An eleven-strong committee of experts in science and innovation led by Glover will judge the entrants.
Interested competitors can consult with committee between January and March next year, before the competition officially opens in the summer. The competition will remain open to entrants until June 2013.
“[This] is Scotland’s energy challenge to the world – a challenge to the brightest and best minds worldwide to unleash their talents and push the frontiers of innovation in green marine energy,” said Salmond.