Tidal devices for the Meygen project in the Pentland Firth are to be built and tested at Nigg Energy Park in Easter Ross.
Meygen owner Atlantis Resources said the decision to locate a new dedicated turbine assembly facility at the energy park – owned by Inverness and Aberdeen-based Global Energy Group – was the result of it agreeing to buy English firm Marine Current Turbines (MCT).
MCT, currently owned by German conglomerate Siemens, is a company specialising in tidal-energy technology.
Atlantis is buying the business, subject to certain conditions being satisfied, in an all-share deal. Siemens will get a near 10% stake in the enlarged company in return. The value of the acquisition in cash terms was not disclosed.
Edinburgh-based Atlantic said it consolidated two world leading tidal technologies, reinforcing its position as a global leader in the market.
Tim Cornelius, the company’s chief executive, added: “We are delighted to be acquiring this leading British tidal power company from Siemens which firmly positions Atlantis as a leader in UK tidal power and globally.
“Marine Current Turbines has developed a world leading tidal turbine, a world-class engineering team, unrivalled expertise in long-term turbine operations and testing through its SeaGen installation at Strangford Lough (Northern Ireland) and an impressive portfolio of projects under development across the UK.”
Atlantis will relocate activities and equipment from MCT’s existing Bristol turbine integration facility to Nigg as well as conducting Atlantis’ UK turbine assembly and testing programmes in support of the MeyGen project at the site.
The move, which is expected to help create 100 new jobs, is seen as an important step in further diversifying Global’s business to reduce its dependence on the oil and gas market.
Gordon Ronaldson, executive vice-president of Global’s process and equipment business, said: “There is a real opportunity through this acquisition to establish Scotland as the centre of excellence for the sector.
“This is an important and exciting milestone in establishing Nigg as Scotland’s main construction and logistics base for offshore renewables.
“We look forward to welcoming the enlarged Atlantis group to Nigg Energy Park and to supporting their various projects in Scotland and throughout the UK.”
Caithness Sutherland and Ross MSP Rob Gibson said: “This could well mark the beginning of something special for the north economy.
“We already know that the area has some of the best renewable resources in the world. Now, hopefully, this will show that manufacturing the devices that will help reap the renewable resources is best done in the north of Scotland too.”
Meygen is the world’s biggest tidal-energy development. It could have up to 269 turbines, generating enough power for an estimated 175,000 homes.
