Saltire Prize opens for applications

No small prize this – the biggest Government innovation prize in the world, Scotland’s Saltire Prize offers £10 million to innovators from anywhere in the world bringing forward  approaches to accelerate the commercial development of marine energy.

The Prize will go to a commercially viable wave or tidal energy technology that generates at least 100 Gigawatt Hours (GWh) of electricity over two years using only the power of the sea – enough to power 10,000 homes.

Scottish Energy Minister Jim Mather also confirmed today that The Crown Estate, as owners of the seabed around the UK, will run a dedicated leasing round over this summer specifically aimed at Saltire Prize competitors to test their devices in Scottish waters.

As a result of feedback from potential entrants during a recent consultation on the Prize guidelines, the Saltire Prize grand challenge period will now be between 2012 and 2017 to allow sufficient time for competitors to secure leases and meet the required licensing and consenting requirements.

Publishing the competition guidelines today at the Scottish Renewables annual conference in Glasgow, Mr Mather said:

‘I am delighted that the Saltire Prize, Scotland’s challenge to the world to push to the boundaries of marine energy innovation, is now open for applications.

‘Scotland is the place to come to harness the power of our seas and beat climate change for global benefit – and potentially collect 10 million pounds.

‘The guidelines have been finalised and are published today. We have been working with The Crown Estate and Marine Scotland to enable new opportunities for global competitors and I am pleased at the co-operation in opening a dedicated new sea-bed leasing round.

‘This will be led by The Crown Estate and will be specifically aimed at new projects competing for the Saltire Prize.

‘This is a hugely important development and we are inviting comments on proposed areas around Scotland for wave and tidal development in advance of the formal leasing process.

‘The Saltire Prize has already captured imaginations around the world. Together with the new £12 million WATERS fund and the world’s first commercial wave and tidal leases in the Pentland Firth announced last week, Scotland is cementing its reputation as the leading location for wave and tidal energy. I wish all Saltire Prize competitors good luck’.

(Energy Minister’s speech to Scottish Renewables Conference 23.3.10. This is the full text of Jim Mather’s speech this morning. It contains several other interesting and informative points, facts and announcements.)

Rob Hastings, Director of the Marine Estate at The Crown Estate said: ‘Following on the success of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters announcement, we are delighted to be working with the Scottish Government to identify further areas for wave and tidal project leases in Scottish Waters.

‘We share the Scottish Government’s drive to encourage this emerging industry to maturity and we are looking forward to announcing the start of the leasing round later this year’.

Further information is available at the Saltire Prize website.

Guidelines for entry

Applications opened this morning – 23rd March 2010 and will close in January 2015. Most teams will be asked to submit a pre-qualification questionnaire by 5th August.

All competing teams will only be accepted as applicants for admission to the Saltire Prize if they can first provide evidence that the appropriate agreement for lease from The Crown Estate has been granted.

Companies already granted a lease by the Crown Estate for trials and developments in the Pentland Firth and the waters of the Orkney islands, will also be eligible to apply for entry to the Saltire Prize.

It is worth noting that an application left as late as January 2015 might prejudice that entry’s chances of success in the timescales then available. Confirmation of applicant status alone can take up to three months.

Once accepted as an entrant, each team must sign a Competitor Agreement ( CA), legal and non-negotiable, with the Scottish Government. The CA will govern all aspects of participation in the competition, including, but not limited to, detailed rules, judging, insurance, liability and indemnification, confidential information, safety, sponsor rights, team sponsorship constraints, logos and team obligations.

Applicants will need to be in the water and commencing testing by the start of 2015. Earlier would be better as a start delayed until early 2015 could see any early technical problems arising make it difficult or impossible for the entry to meet the requirement of a two year power delivery of over 100 GWh by close of play in June 2017.

The burden of proof to establish output performance, safety, cost, environmental sustainability and viability of business plans lies with the Applicant.

Here are the full details of the Guidelines for the operation of the Prize, published this morning (23rd March 2010)

The Background to the  Saltire Prize Grand Challenge

The £10 million Prize will be awarded to the team that can demonstrate in Scottish waters, a commercially viable wave or tidal stream energy technology that achieves the greatest volume of electrical output, over the set minimum hurdle of 100 Gigawatt hours, over a continuous two year period, using only the power of the sea.

Since the Saltire Prize Grand Challenge was announced in December 2008, there have been 140 registrations of interest from 27 countries.

The Saltire Prize will:

• advance marine renewable technology
• lead to leap-frog technology for Scottish, European and world benefit
• be open to applications from teams across the world, encouraging European and global collaboration
• be demonstrated in Scottish waters

The Saltire Prize Timeline

• March 2010: Saltire Prize applications opens
• June 2012: Grand Challenge testing opens
• January 2015: Saltire Prize applications close.
• June 2017 – Grand Challenge testing closes
• July 2017 – Judging and award of Saltire Prize.

Areas open to the Saltire Prize leasing round:

Scotland’s seas can provide 25% of Europe’s tidal power and 10% of its wave power. In addition to the holders of licences already granted for development in the Pentland Firth and the waters of the Orkneys, eligible for entry, the Scottish Government and The Crown Estate are seeking views on the suitability of the following proposed areas for the dedicated leasing round:

* Wave energy: West of Shetland, west of the Western Isles, north of Tiree, west of Colonsay
* Tidal energy: West of Islay, west of Kintyre peninsula.

We note that, of these 6 areas, 4 are in Argyll waters – Tiree, Coionsay, Islay and Kintyre and that they do not include Argyll’s richest potential source of tidal energy – the Sound of Islay.

It is good for morale to see Scotland out there in one of the most significant of today’s development challenges, taking bold decisions, staking its claim to a leading role in working up this crucial technology and making its mark.

And its good for Argyll to see how important it is and will be in the coming developments.

The photograph above shows the Pentland Firth looking to Hoy, one of the Orkney Isles and is by copyright holder, Roger McLassus. It is reproduced here under the GNU Free Documentation Licence