Atlantis connects flagship MeyGen tidal project to grid

Atlantis has announced a £2 million profit from a tidal array project which connects it to the 33kV Ness of Quoys distribution network in Scotland

Marine power firm Atlantis has connected its flagship MeyGen tidal array project to a distribution network via an underground power export cable.

The connection is the result of a £2 million profit from the project which connects it to the 33kV Ness of Quoys distribution network following the successful installation of one of the longest underground 33kV power export cables in the UK by the network operator, Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution.

The connection complies with the National Grid Code and has required over 25km of distribution network upgrades along with infrastructure upgrades at two substations. 

When completed, the 400MW project is expected to generate enough predictable and emissions free electricity to power 175,000 Scottish homes. The first tidal turbines will be installed over the coming months and the project remains on track to deliver first power in the second half of 2016.

In April 2016 Atlantis raised approximately £6.5 million before expenses from new and existing shareholders to fund project development activities across the Atlantis project portfolio and working capital.

Tim Cornelius, chief executive of Atlantis, said: "The connection of our flagship MeyGen project to the SHEPD distribution network marks a huge technical major milestone for Atlantis and the tidal stream industry more broadly. It has involved years of hard work, persistence, perseverance and determination by our team and all of the contractors and consultants involved in the onshore work scope.

"We believe this is now the world’s largest energised grid connection of any commercial tidal stream array. We have made great progress over recent months at MeyGen on turbine and foundation preparation and we very much look forward to delivering first power to the grid later this year, which will be a huge event for our company and the global marine power industry.”