Aquatera has welcomed six Japanese students and two teachers from the Kamaishi Super Science High School, in the city of Kamaishi, Japan. The students were on a fact-finding trip to learn about Orkney’s world renowned renewable energy industry and also to meet with pupils from the county’s secondary schools and college.
Kamaishi was heavily damaged in 2011 by the devastating earthquake and tsunami, which killed around 1,250 residents, including family of some of the pupils from the School. Much of the city has yet to be rebuilt and the development and use of renewable energy resources will be a key factor in developing Kamaishi’s future.
The visit follows recent development work conducted by Stromness based environmental company Aquatera and EMEC (European Marine Energy Centre) in Japan over the past 18 months. Aquatera and EMEC have collaborated over recent months to develop marine renewable opportunities with several Japanese contacts. This also included a visit to Kamaishi as well as a presentation to the Super Science High School.
Ian Johnstone, Senior Consultant, Head of Community with Aquatera , explained: “In Kamaishi, they are planning to build a test centre similar to EMEC for wave and some offshore wind devices, and we’re delighted to be involved in the development process. It’s very encouraging that the children of Kamaishi are so keen to learn about renewables and fantastic that these students have travelled all the way to Orkney, to experience at first hand, the tremendous developments that have been achieved in the renewables industry in Orkney over recent years.”