Tidal power developer Atlantis Resources Limited, has hosted Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, for the official unveiling ceremony of the MeyGen Project, the world’s largest free stream tidal power project, at the Nigg Energy Park in Scotland.
The four 1.5MW turbines that make up Phase 1A (three built by Andritz and one AR1500 Atlantis turbine) weigh almost 200 tonnes each and have now been fully assembled. They will be positioned on top of their foundation structures on the quayside at Nigg ready for deployment to the MeyGen site in the Pentland Firth. The turbines and their foundations will be transported to the site by the Neptune jack-up vessel operated by Geoseas, a subsidiary of the DEME Group.
The ceremony took place on the Nigg quayside where the first fully assembled turbine, standing 15 metres tall and with blades 18 metres in diameter, was unveiled by the First Minister.
The unveiling follows the MeyGen project’s successful connection to the 33kV Ness of Quoys distribution network.
Atlantis remains on track to deliver first power to the grid from MeyGen Phase 1A later this year, which will be a landmark event for the global marine power industry.
The First Minister used the launch to pass comment on the current UK uncertainty around support for renewable energy following Brexit:
“There is no doubt that the eyes of the world are on this project which is why the Scottish Government’s investment is so crucially important. But it is absolutely vital that the UK Government honours its earlier commitment to provide a ringfenced allocation for marine energy in its renewables support scheme. They must tackle the current uncertainty that exists before they cause irreparable damage to the long term prospects for the sector.”
By Jake Frith
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