MeyGen could be 'a flagship project' for tidal energy industry, says company behind development
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
THE MeyGen tidal energy scheme in the Pentland Firth could be "a flagship project for the industry and the technology globally."
That is the claim made by Simec Atlantis Energy - the company behind the pioneering development -
as it plans the next phase of the initiative.
A Simec spokesman said: "We expect the buildout of MeyGen will unlock significant international opportunity for further projects and continue the reduction in the cost of energy from tidal generation towards that of more established forms of renewable generation."
"Once operational, this project will be the largest tidal array ever built and continues to be a pioneer and a flagship for both the industry and the technology globally. Operationally, MeyGen provides vital learning to help the design and development for our future projects."
He explained that three of the MeyGen turbines have been moved to Nigg in easter Ross for onshore service works.
"We expect one of the turbines to be returned to service very shortly with the other two scheduled to be returned to service later in the year, once their service works are completed," added the spokesman.
Meanwhile, Simec's Raz Blanchard demonstration array, located between Alderney and France, is making good progress.
"The project will include four turbines, connected through a subsea hub, with a single export cable back to shore. The subsea hub has now been proven through its successful installation at MeyGen in 2020 and the design of the array will implement lessons learned from this deployment. Additional offshore site surveys are planned for later in the year, which will allow for more the detailed resource modelling required for the site-specific detailed design," said the spokesman.
He added: "We welcome the recently announced French legislation, which will help provide the necessary revenue support through a competitive power purchase contract for the project. SAE and its project partner, Agence de Développement pour la Normandie, will continue to work closely to progress this important project."
