Site Visit – EMEC

The tour will begin at 09:00 and include:

• Boat trip to EMEC’s tidal energy test site at the Fall of Warness
• Viewing the Orbital O2 – the world’s largest tidal turbine operating on site
• Onshore tour of EMEC’s tidal energy substation, green hydrogen R&D facilities and vanadium flow batteries on the island of Eday
• Transport on Eday
• Lunch

Please bring suitable waterproof clothing and sturdy shoes. Life jackets will be provided. The tour is expected to end at 15:30.

Please note: Site visit is weather dependent. If cancelled due to weather, an alternative tour on mainland Orkney will be offered.

EMEC cannot guarantee which, if any, technologies will be onsite at any given time. Clients are responsible for their own testing schedules and, due to the nature of the industry, these can change at very short notice due to weather, supply chain availability and operations and maintenance requirements.

The weather in Orkney is changeable throughout the year. Please bring warm waterproof clothing, and sturdy footwear. Please advise on any accessibility concerns when registering or contact Erika Kemp erika.kemp@emec.org.uk to discuss. 

• The price covers activities in Orkney.
• The price does not cover travel to and from Orkney, nor accommodation in Orkney. This must be booked by delegates directly (see below page for options).
• Costs stated do not include VAT.

Should the tour be cancelled due to the weather, costs will be reimbursed. Should weather cause delays or cancellations to your travel to Orkney, resulting in you missing the tour, a refund for the tour costs above will be given. You will need to check T&Cs with your flight and accommodation provider regarding their cancellation and refunds policy.

Flights to Orkney are operated by Loganair, and depart from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Inverness.For your return flight, please allow some contingency between the Orkney flight and any onward travel as weather can cause delays. Please book flights as soon as possible, as flights and accommodation do fill up in advance.

Orkney is served by two ferry companies. NorthLink Ferries operate a daily service from Scrabster to Stromness, and a twice-weekly service from Aberdeen to Kirkwall. Pentland Ferries operate a daily service from John O’ Groats to St Margaret’s Hope. Further details on routes and times can be found on the relevant website.

Hotels options include: The Kirkwall Hotel, The Ayre Hotel, The Albert Hotel, The Orkney Hotel, The Lynnfield Hotel.

If you’d like to spend more time in Orkney following the EMEC tour, we’re happy to provide suggestions on places of interest including local key scenic, historical and archaeological attractions.

There are also various qualified local guides in Orkney who can help if you would like some assistance in planning your itinerary, and/or would like to be accompanied during stay. Orkney.com has listings for private tour guides – see Guided Tours | Orkney.com for more information.

Orkney hosts an impressive supply chain of local businesses that have gained experience working within the energy sector – see Supply Chain | Orkney.com for more information and contact details.