Norwegian technology for tidal energy to be further developed in Great Britain 

The Norwegian technology company Hammerfest Strøm AS has today announced it has concluded a collaboration agreement with ScottishPower to further develop their technology for creating electricity from tidal currents. The technology invented by Hammerfest Strøm has received international attention, and it is regarded one of the leading technologies in this field. Their first tidal stream turbine is running on 50 meters depth in Kvalsundet near Hammerfest, Norway. The turbine is the worlds first of its kind and has delivered electricity to the grid for almost four years.

Great Britain has a goal of becoming world leaders within marine renewable energy, and have applied beneficial regulating framework to achieve this goal. This is the reason that Hammerfest Strøm AS now chooses to further develop their technology with partners in Scotland.

The companies are signing an agreement that describes every phase of the development of a commercial tidal technology. Hammerfest Strøm AS is establishing a daughter company in Scotland, which will further develop the technology. ScottishPower will become an owner of Hammerfest Strøm, and also identify and make ready areas for commercial building of tidal stream turbines.

The intention of the agreement is to build and install an up scaled application of 1 MW during 2009. After the verification the intention is to begin mass production for delivery to ScottishPower and other energy companies. It is expected that the turnover will reach 1 bn Norwegian kroner in a ten year period in Great Britain. The company is therefore assuming a significant industrial activity and many new jobs in Scotland.

Hammerfest Strøm AS is also in a dialog with Norwegian authorities to look into the opportunity of a further development of the tidal stream turbine in Kvalsund at the same time of the company’s heavy commitment in Great Britain. This will contribute to strengthen the Norwegian competence that has been a part of this project.

Facts about Hammerfest Strøm AS:

• Hammerfest Strøm AS is a Norwegian technology company, established in 1997 and is owned by Statoil New Energy AS, Hammerfest Energi AS, Hammerfest Næringsinvest AS, Alta Kraftlag AL and Troms Kraft AS.
• The largest owner Statoil has played an important role as owner and in the technological development.
• The company’s business area is to do research and development based on renewable energy for use in global energy distribution, and to obtain rights to commercial use by delivering turn-key tidal stream turbines. They will remain the owner of the technology and be in control of the projects, but the production, assembly, testing and installation will be outsourced.