The Inner Sound lies within the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters strategic area, between Caithness on the Scottish mainland and the island of Stroma. The Inner Sound has potential for a commercial project of 200 MW or more installed tidal power capacity.

The Inner Sound was re-tendered earlier this year following withdrawal of the preferred bidder during the first competitive wave and tidal leasing round in the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters.

The Crown Estate says that “should a successful bidder emerge from the [current re-tendering] process, we would plan to award an agreement for lease in the autumn.”