Professor receives Saltire Medal

Mar 19 2013

A professor involved in the development of the world's first tidal turbine has been awarded the Scottish Government's Saltire Prize Medal for his contribution to renewable energy.

Peter Fraenkel co-founded IT Power in 1981, the firm which created the world's first tidal turbine tested on Loch Linnhe thirteen years later. He and others went on to establish the company Marine Current Turbines (MCT) in 1999.

The Saltire Medal is part of the Government's £10 million marine energy challenge the Saltire Prize, which will be awarded in 2015 to the individual or organisation which oversees the biggest wave and tidal energy breakthrough.

Mr Fraenkel, a visiting professor at Edinburgh University, was presented with the award by Finance Secretary John Swinney at the Scottish Renewables Conference dinner in Edinburgh.

He said: "It is a surprise and a great honour to receive the Saltire Medal. I feel I am in excellent company with the previous winners, both leading pioneers of wave energy."

Mr Swinney said: "He has contributed significantly to the development of tidal energy, not only in Scotland, but across the world. His commitment to innovation in this industry is unsurpassed. He was involved the development of the world's first tidal turbine, which is in the hands of the Museum of Scotland and it is fitting that he is recognised for his achievements in this area."

Mr Swinney revealed that a fifth competitor has entered the race for the Saltire Prize. West Islay Tidal Park Energy Ltd has recently secured a Crown Estate lease to develop the 30 megawatt tidal array off the West Coast of Islay.

The application period for the award runs until January 2015.

The winner will be the team that achieves the greatest volume of electrical output over the set minimum hurdle of 100GWh (Gigawatt Hour) over a continuous two year period, using only the power of the sea.