AWS Ocean Energy Ltd, one of Scotland's and the UK's leading marine energy technology companies today announced the award of a £2000 MSc dissertation studentship to Heriot-Watt student Gregory Blower. As a result, Gregory will spend the summer at Heriot-Watt's Orkney campus working with AWS Ocean Energy on the company's wave energy device which is due to be deployed at EMEC next year.

Based in Edinburgh, Gregory is studying for an MSc in Energy at Heriot Watt University. Commenting on his project he said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for me to work with one of the world leading wave energy companies and gain a unique insight into the development of these devices. It also means that I can study in Orkney over the summer. The growing cluster of activity there means that Orkney is fast emerging as a global centre of excellence for marine renewables and it is also a great place to be with a real buzz about it."

Ben Yeats, project development manager at AWS Ocean Energy and himself a Heriot-Watt alumni comments: "AWS is delighted to support Gregory over the summer. We are a dynamic research focused organisation and we place great value on our links with academia. As a former student I also recognise the importance of this kind of experience for individual students."

Dr Sandy Kerr, a lecturer at Heriot-Watt's Orkney campus said: "Studying in Orkney gives students unparalleled opportunities to see marine renewables in action."

Alness based AWS Ocean Energy is working hard to deliver the next generation of technologies to harness energy from the waves and tidal streams around our shores. The company's plans were boosted earlier this year when they secured investment from Shell, one of the world's major energy companies. The new investment has helped to step up development and recruitment activity, with AWS Ocean Energy confirming plans to double its workforce from the current 13 employees within the next twelve months. The company also confirmed plans to install its award winning Waveswing(tm) technology at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), off Orkney next year.

The Waveswing(tm) is a simple but highly effective device designed for bulk power production to a utility grid. Invisible from the surface, a cylinder shaped buoy is moored to the seabed, generating power via the motion of passing waves.  Submerged at least 6 metres below the surface, AWS can survive the most violent storms and downtime is minimised through maintenance at sea. With future outputs of up to 1MW in a rough sea and typical load factors of 25-30% in a northern Atlantic location, it is hoped that within 20 years AWS generators will provide a significant contribution to world energy supplies.

For more information about studying at the Orkney Campus see www.icit.org.uk and AWS Ocean Ltd at www.awsocean.com.