Researchers from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen last week began sea trials of a prototype turbine platform that they hope will revolutionise the renewable energy industry by generating tidal energy.
Scottish tidal currents alone could produce enough electricity to support 15 million people, they predict. Moreover, the university's prefabricated device could be a winner because, unlike existing turbines, it needs no specialist hardware to install. The new device is officially called Snail - but its inventor, Ian Brydon, prefers to call it "Brian".