Pioneering tidal project set for grid connection next year

Construction of four turbine, 6MW project progressing smoothly

The MeyGen tidal power project off the coast of Northern Scotland will start delivering power to the grid next year, following a successful construction campaign.

Phase 1A of the project will see four turbines rated at a total output of 6MW installed in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth, two kilometres off the Caithness coast.

Key project achievements include the completion of the horizontal directional drilling programme for all four power export cables; and offshore installation ‎of the cables in preparation for connection of the first four turbine systems next year to the national grid via the onshore power distribution centre.

Around 15 kilometres of 33kV onshore cable have also been installed by from Hastigrow to Ness of Quoys, ready for grid connection next year.

Fabrication of all four of the Phase 1A turbine foundations is now underway at Nigg Energy Park in Scotland, while assembly of three Andritz Hammerfest Hydro 1.5MW turbines and of one Atlantis 1.5MW turbine is in progress in Germany and Scotland, respectively.

Tim Cornelius, chief executive officer of Atlantis, the parent company on the MeyGen project: said: “2015 has been a transformational year. The project remains on track to execute its final offshore installation and commissioning programme in 2016.

“With strong political and regulatory support for tidal stream power in the United Kingdom, and with the excellent progress being made on the MeyGen project, 2016 promises to be a watershed year for Atlantis.”