The 100kW turbine was developed with support from the Scottish Government’s WATES (Wave and Tidal Energy Support) scheme. 

Mr Mather was visiting Wavegen’s LIMPET facility, where the 100kW turbine is installed, near Portnahaven on the island of Islay in his Argyll and Bute constituency. LIMPET is the world’s first commercial-scale, grid-connected wave energy plant, and has been in operation since 2000. Mr Mather was joined by senior executives from RWE Innogy and Voith Siemens Hydro Power Generation (Wavegen’s parent company). 

The startup of the 100kW turbine is a major step forward for the Siadar Wave Energy Project (SWEP), under development by npower renewables (RWE Innogy’s UK operating company) on the isle of Lewis. npower renewables submitted planning applications for the SWEP in April 2008. The SWEP would harness power from the Atlantic waves in SiadarBay to generate up to 4 megawatts of electricity, using forty Wavegen 100kW turbines. The energy produced each year could supply the average annual electricity needs of around 1500 homes on Lewis and Harris. If plans are given the go ahead by the Scottish Government, building work could start as early as 2009. The project could generate up to 50 construction jobs for local people and would take 18 months to complete. 

Jim Mather,Scottish Government Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism commented: “The Scottish Government is determined to help make Scotland a world leader in the development and deployment of wave and tidal technologies.
I am delighted to be in Islay today to see the investment from WATES come to fruition for myself, and this advanced renewables project is more evidence that wave energy will bring real results and benefits for businesses in Scotland as we move towards cleaner energy sources.” 

Dr Roland Muench, CEO of Voith Siemens Hydro commented: “With this new turbine Wavegen has extended the range of application for wave energy plants to include more energetic and hence more economically attractive environments. 
I am confident the reliability demonstrated in other proven turbines will be continued in this 100kW turbine, and I look forward to seeing turbines deployed in Siadar and many other projects. Voith Siemens Hydro sees ocean energy as a growth sector, and this is reinforced by worldwide interest in our products.” 

Kevin McCullough, Chief Operating Officer of RWE's renewable-energy unit RWE Innogy said: “This is a significant step forward in realising our ambitions of developing the SWEP at Siadar. It is a great opportunity to see the technology in action and optimise its performance before it's used commercially."