The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney has been awarded £15 million to significantly expand its tidal energy testing infrastructure, as part of a wider £150 million package of research investment announced by the UK Government.
The funding, unveiled by Science Minister Lord Vallance on 19 February 2026, is being delivered through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and forms part of the organisation’s record £38 billion funding settlement. The Orkney award falls under a programme called Blue Horizon, which will allow EMEC to upgrade its world-renowned test facilities to accommodate the demonstration of multi-device tidal energy arrays – a progression that industry experts say is central to bringing tidal power into the mainstream energy mix.
EMEC, founded in Orkney in 2003, operates the world’s only purpose-built wave and tidal energy test facilities. Until now, its infrastructure has primarily supported single-device trials. The Blue Horizon investment will enable companies to test and demonstrate multiple turbines operating together, an essential step in validating tidal energy at commercial scale and reducing costs through economies of scale.
Matthew Finn, Managing Director of EMEC, welcomed the award as a turning point for the sector.
“This is a major boost for EMEC and the tidal energy sector. This investment will unlock vital infrastructure needed to move from single-device trials to multi-device demonstrations, accelerating the commercialisation of tidal power in the UK. By enhancing capacity for larger-scale arrays, Blue Horizon will enable the sector to benefit from economies of scale and reduce costs. The upgraded facilities will drive innovation in the technologies and systems required for large-scale tidal deployment worldwide, cementing the UK’s position as a global leader in tidal innovation, while driving industrial growth and strengthening energy security.”
The Orkney funding represents one strand of a broader investment package. The remaining £135 million is divided between two other programmes: £55 million for a network of Centres of Imaging Excellence to accelerate cancer diagnosis across England, Scotland and Wales, and £80 million for a National Materials Innovation Programme targeting advanced manufacturing and healthcare applications.
Science Minister Lord Vallance framed the investment as part of a broader effort to translate research excellence into real-world economic impact.
“Britain has world-class researchers and a proud history of turning insight and ideas into innovation. Our job is to make sure those ideas don’t just stay in the lab, but become the treatments, technologies and products that improve lives in hospitals, homes and communities across the country. This represents British research at its best — bringing together ideas, expertise, and technical know-how and turning it into impact.”
The announcement arrives at a significant moment for Scotland’s marine energy sector. EMEC recently completed a world-first tidal-to-hydrogen integration at its Eday test site, combining tidal generation, battery storage and hydrogen production — a development that has drawn international attention to Orkney’s potential as a clean energy innovation hub.
The Blue Horizon project is funded through UKRI’s Infrastructure Fund and positions the UK — and Scotland in particular — to remain competitive as global interest in predictable, marine-based renewable energy intensifies. Unlike wind and solar, tidal energy is highly predictable, offering a consistent and reliable contribution to grid stability that complements other renewable sources.
