SIMEC Atlantis to add expand 6 MW tidal project in Scotland

SIMEC Atlantis Energy Limited has announced advanced plans to enhance the existing 6 MW MeyGen tidal array, located in Pentland Firth, a strait in the north of Scotland, commissioned in March 2018, through the addition of at least two of the company’s new tidal turbines.

When installed, these new Atlantis turbines, which are capable of generating up to 2.0 MW using more powerful generators and larger rotor diameters, will use a new subsea connection hub and share a single export cable. These innovations will significantly reduce project infrastructure costs by removing the requirement for a dedicated export cable per turbine and should also result in reduced vessel installation costs.

Atlantis is progressing all requisite technical and environmental studies, targeting first power generation through the new subsea connection hub in late 2019, subject to consents and funding.

The proposed works, known as Project Stroma, will benefit from a EUR16.8 million (US$19 million) revenue support package under the European Commission’s NER300 programme. Atlantis expects the yield from the enhanced array to increase by approximately 40% relative to the current configuration of four turbines.