The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) has secured a £15 million (approximately €17.5 million) investment to expand its tidal energy research and development infrastructure in Orkney, Scotland, strengthening the UK’s push toward large-scale marine renewables.

The funding will support the Blue Horizon project, aimed at enhancing EMEC’s tidal test facilities to enable the demonstration of multi-device tidal energy arrays. The expansion marks a significant step forward from single-device trials toward commercial-scale deployment of tidal power technologies.

The project is one of three selected under a combined £150 million funding package backed by the UK Government and delivered through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The investment forms part of UKRI’s record £38 billion funding settlement, designed to advance curiosity-driven research, address national priorities, and support innovative companies to start, scale, and remain in the UK.

According to EMEC Managing Director Matthew Finn, the funding will unlock critical infrastructure needed to accelerate commercialization.

“This investment enables the transition from single-device trials to multi-device demonstrations,” Finn said. “By enhancing capacity for larger-scale arrays, Blue Horizon will allow the sector to benefit from economies of scale and reduce costs.”

He added that upgraded facilities will drive innovation in technologies and systems required for global tidal deployment, reinforcing the UK’s leadership in tidal energy while supporting industrial growth and strengthening national energy security.

Located in Orkney, EMEC is widely recognized as a leading test center for wave and tidal energy technologies, playing a pivotal role in advancing the marine renewable sector.