Orbital secures 2nd berth for O2 tidal turbine project

Orbital Marine Power Ltd has secured a second berth at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) that would help in the delivery of its first floating tidal project. 

Orbital is set to build the second 2 MW turbine platform to form a total of 4 MW floating tidal power farm at EMEC’s Fall of Warness test site. The project's output will be delivered to the national grid via EMEC’s subsea cable and an onshore substation.

Orbital expected to complete the construction of the 2 MW O2 tidal turbine project at first berth within 2020. The O2 project will consist of a 72-meter long floating superstructure with two 1 MW turbines at each end in Orkney, Scotland. 

Orbital has raised about GBP7 million (US$8.6 million) for the project through crowdfunding and was awarded GBP3.4 million (US$4.1 million) by the Scottish Government through the Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund.