A Shetland company will manufacture blades for a bank of tidal turbines that will power 300 homes, Deputy First Minister John Swinney announced today.

Shetland Composites secured the six month contract from Edinburgh-based Nova Innovation who is developing five 100kW tidal turbines known as the Shetland Tidal Array.

Mr Swinney said:

“This contract from Edinburgh-based Nova Innovation is great news for Shetland Composites and the local economy. The Scottish Government and its agencies will do everything we can to ensure Scotland benefits from the significant economic opportunities the renewables industry presents.

“The seas around Scotland have the potential to provide us with a sustainable, renewable energy source. We will do all we can to help companies such as Nova innovation to access these resources.”

The turbines, which sit more than 100ft below the waves, will be developed in two phases with commissioning of the first three devices by the end of 2015.

The device has a rotating turbine, which is spun by the power of the tide. This drives a generator that produces electricity, which is then transmitted to the shore via a subsea cable.

Shetland Composites was awarded £69,774 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise towards the extension to its workshop premises in Lerwick.

Scottish Enterprise and the Renewable Energy Investment Fund (REIF) are supporting Nova Innovation with £1.9 million of grant and loan funding for the tidal array project. Earlier this year, Nova Innovation deployed the world’s first community owned tidal turbine in Shetland.

Gibson from Shetland Composites, commented:

“This is a big step for the company. Up until now most of our work in the marine renewable sector has been in the development of prototype devices. Now finally these projects are scaling up and becoming commercial viable.