New survey at MeyGen tidal site
A NEW seabed survey started this week in the Pentland Firth as part of the next stage of the MeyGen tidal energy project.
Crew and technicians on board the high-speed, Orkney-based survey vessel Advance began studies of the Inner Sound site which is operated by Simec Atlantis Energy plc.
The vessel is owned and operated by Roving Eye Enterprises of Orphir in Orkney.
The company specialises in detailed sea-floor studies using modern remotely operated vehicles, controlled from the wheelhouse of the vessel.
The survey is being conducted for Simec, which has confirmed it is proceeding with phase 1B – Project Stroma – of its MeyGen tidal stream electricity project. The multimillion-pound scheme involves the installation of a new subsea cable hub on the sea floor plus two new Atlantis AR2000 two-megawatt turbines.
The preparatory sea-floor surveys are taking place prior to the installation of the hub which will link the two new turbines to a single protected cable laid on the seabed to the onshore reception building at Ness of Quoys, about a mile east of Gills harbour.
Simec Atlantis expects offshore construction work on the hub and support structures for the turbines to start in October or November, with electricity being generated towards the end of 2020.
At present there are four turbines – the demonstration array – which produce electricity from the Pentland Firth tidal streams. The array was installed as phase 1A of the MeyGen project.
It feeds the power to the Ness of Quoys facility which is linked by underground cable to SSE's local distribution network substation at Hastigrow, from where it is delivered to consumers.
The MeyGen project will be undertaken in various stages. It is planned to put in 269 turbines in total and generate enough potential energy to power 175,000 homes.
Gills Harbour Ltd chairman Bill Mowat has welcomed the go-ahead of phase 1B. He described the decision as good news and hopes it will result in business for the community-owned port.
The announcement also provides "a welcome boost for the whole concept of tidal stream electricity at a time when the UK Government is effectively blocking this type of electric power generation from any user subsidy contracts to be awarded this summer", Mr Mowat added.
