Sealing the deal

Manchester based Roxtec’s UK managing director Graham O’Hare said the deal with Scotrenewables Tidal Power Limited (SRTP) involved Roxtec supplying the new SR2000 2MW floating turbine which is 65m long, 3m in diameter and weighs 550 tons. Once launched later this year, the SR2000 will undergo an intensive demonstration programme at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), following which it will be offered to the global tidal industry, if all goes according to plan, as a technology with the lowest cost of energy in the sector.

Mr O’Hare said Roxtec, which exports to 70 countries, was delighted to be at the forefront of developing new technology for such an innovative project in the progressive tidal power industry. He said Roxtec’s super strong watertight seals have been installed to protect the turbine’s vital control systems from flooding and water ingress over a 20-year period.

“The turbine was built in Orkney and at the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, and Roxtec provided support at both locations throughout the project,” he said. “We have sealed a high volume of multiple electrical control and instrumentation cables of various sizes on the turbine through every bulkhead between sections. Importantly we could offer the highest standards of certified waterproof bulkhead seals. The cabling in the turbine is extensive and runs its entire length through ten compartments inside the floating hull, and also cable sealing within the generator nacelles, and over an exposed section linked to topside power, control and communication equipment.

“Drawing on our many years’ experience in the marine and renewables sector, we have been able to provide support throughout the process from planning to installation to ongoing maintenance. Going forward, our seals are designed to be flexible with easy maintenance access and spare capacity for upgrades. This is important because the project is still in test phase and changes may be required. But our sealing solutions have been designed so changes can be carried out easily at low cost. This is in stark contrast to many traditional seals which can be onerous, costly and time-consuming to maintain and upgrade.”

Mr O’Hare said Roxtec is keen to win more work in the tidal sector building on its track record in the renewable sector worldwide: “Roxtec was chosen for this project because we are industry leaders in sealing solutions for the renewables sector, where we have been used in over 40 offshore windfarms in Europe,” he said.

By Jake Frith