WHILE China prepares to help build the first new nuclear power station in the UK in a generation, Orkney has agreed to help the Chinese harness the power of the waves around their coast.

The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) based in Orkney, where developers have been conducting trials on their wave and tidal energy devices for over 10 years, has strengthened its ties with China.

It has just signed a Memorandum of Understanding with organisations based in Qingdao, a port and city in China’s eastern Shandong province, to support the development of their own marine energy test site in the area.

The agreement, signed along with Edinburgh University at UK-China Energy Dialogue in London, is to share knowledge and carry out fundamental research to establish a wave energy test site in Qingdao.

The Ocean University of China (OUC), Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (QNLM), and Qingdao Songling Power Environmental Equipment Company (QSPEEC), are parties to the agreement.

EMEC’s Commercial Director, Oliver Wragg said: “Scotland and China have a common interest to support the global development of marine energy technologies.

"As the first test centre of its kind, EMEC has endured some steep learning curves during its own development, and we see no point in other countries having to reinvent the wheel.

“Having overseen more than 1000 marine energy activities at our test sites in Orkney covering device deployments, grid connections, cable laying operations, data collection and various monitoring activities, we have many experiences to share with our Chinese counterparts that can make their journey a great deal smoother."

Professor Hongda Shi, from Ocean University of China (OUC), said: “Marine renewable energy in China has the potential for a brilliant future, but we have a long way to go.

"The short-cut for development is to cooperate with the countries who have advanced technology and abundant experience. Scotland is no doubt such a country, and EMEC is the leader of the domain.

“Enterprise, together with university, can make both theoretical and applicable achievements. We hope that collaboration between both countries will make marine renewable energy a big market which benefits Scotland and China.”