SIMEC Atlantis introduces new 2-MW tidal power turbine system

SIMEC Atlantis Energy Ltd (LON:SAE), formerly Atlantis Resources, today unveiled the design for what it says is the largest and most powerful single axis tidal power turbine available on the commercial market.

The new AR2000 unit will be capable of accommodating rotors of 20-24 metres in diameter, with a cut in speed of less than one metre per second and a maximum output of 2 MW at 3.05 m/s for a turbine with a 20-metre rotor diameter.

SIMEC Atlantis said in a statement that it has invested over GBP 5 million (USD 6.5m/EUR 5.6m) in the development of this machine and plans to use it in future phases of its flagship 398-MW MeyGen tidal project in Scotland. The company is holding talks with various governments, developers and site owners in a drive to identify potential locations for a manufacture, assembly, testing and commissioning facility.

The product, comprising the new turbine in a complete rotor to grid tidal generation system, has been in development for two years now and should be available for sale to commercial developers in the final quarter of 2019. It will have a 25-year design life with quarter-life interventions for routine maintenance.

“Not only will it [the AR2000] be the largest single rotor turbine in production, it will be the backbone of a highly efficient and cost-effective generation system capable of deployment in each of our key target markets in the UK, France, Channel Islands, Asia, Australia and Canada,” commented Drew Blaxland, Director of Turbine and Engineering Services at SIMEC Atlantis.

(GBP 1.0 = USD 1.303/EUR 1.122)

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