EMEC 20 Year Study

BiGGAR Economics has provided economic analysis and support to the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) for many years, including assessing the potential for the proposed expansion of testing facilities to accommodate the floating offshore wind sector and economic case development for the Islands Centre for Net Zero. Earlier this year we were commissioned by EMEC to assess the economic contribution made by the research centre since it was established in Orkney in 2003, to celebrate 20 years of the centre’s operation. The report was launched at the All Energy Conference in Glasgow in May 2023.

EMEC is the world’s first and leading facility for demonstrating and testing wave and tidal devices.
The centre’s work in this area has supported the development of the renewable energy sector
globally, taking part in research and development projects totalling £538 million since 2003. EMEC’s
work in the renewables sector has evolved since its inception, with 75% of devices tested at EMEC in
2023 involved in the production and storage of hydrogen. This work will support the UK in attaining
the level of hydrogen supply required to progress to a Net Zero economy as outlined in the Sixth
Carbon Budget.

EMEC plays a key role in supporting Orkney’s economy. EMEC directly employs 85 people in the
area, making it one of Orkney’s top 20 employers. With the working-age population projected to fall by
13% between 2021 and 2043, EMEC’s reputation as a global leader in energy research works to
attract talent to the area. The majority of EMEC’s staff are aged 35 or younger, considerably lower
than the working age profile of Orkney overall.

EMEC is now one of the top 20 employers in Orkney

Between 2003 and 2023, EMEC generated a cumulative impact of £370 million Gross Value Added
(GVA) and 5,396 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) job years across the UK. This accounts for the centre’s
operational impacts, as well as the benefits generated by device development and the employment in
the marine renewable sector in Orkney supported by EMEC’s presence.

EMEC also generated a cumulative economic impact of:

  • £130 million Gross Value Added (GVA) and 2,240 FTE job years in Orkney;
  • £152 million GVA and 2,615 FTE job years in the Highlands and Islands region; and
  • £263 million GVA and 4,055 FTE job years in Scotland.

Further Reading

More information about EMEC and the economic contribution it has made over the last 20 years can be found on the links below:

Posted 23.05.23

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