A marine energy firm based in Scotland’s Pentland Firth has announced the launch of two modified tidal turbines.
Simec Atlantis Energy said today it had “successfully completed the redeployment” of two 1.5 megawatt (MW) turbines at the MeyGen tidal energy project in Scotland.
The firm retrieved the turbines in October for modification work.
Simec Atlantis confirmed today that the modification work is complete and all four of its tidal arrays are now “reconnected to the grid”.
It also added that the project had “exceeded 10,000MWh of cumulative generation ” since reconnection.
Drew Blaxland, director of Atlantis Turbines and Engineering Services Division, said: “Yet again, we have demonstrated that we can work in all weather conditions, deploying turbines quickly and most importantly, safely.
“I am immensely proud of our team, our operational partners and the crew onboard the Seabed Stingray.”
The modified turbines use more powerful generators and larger rotor diameters.
As part of the Meygen project, the new arrays also use a new subsea connection hub and share a single export cable.
Simec Atlantis claim the use of larger rotor diameters is “in-step with a key cost reduction trends” seen in the offshore wind industry.
Tim Cornelius, chief executive of Simec Atlantis, said: “Drew and his team have demonstrated time and time again that turbine operations can be conducted safely at all times of the year.
“In my opinion, they are the world’s leading tidal energy offshore construction team and the advances they have made in subsea intervention technology and methodologies will contribute significantly to the steep cost reductions we expect to see in the next phase of tidal arrays to be built in the UK, France, Canada and Asia.”
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