SIMEC Atlantis to add 4 MW to MeyGen tidal array

SIMEC Atlantis Energy Ltd (LON:SAE) today said it plans to install two new, bigger turbines to lift to 10 MW the capacity of the MeyGen tidal energy array in Scotland.

The additional turbines, each capable of generating up to 2 MW, will have more powerful generators and larger rotor diameters than the four turbines already installed south of the island of Stroma. A new subsea connection hub will be built, eliminating the need for offshore transformer platforms, and the two turbines will share one export cable, reducing project infrastructure and vessel installation costs.

The use of larger rotor diameter turbines and subsea connection hubs will open up new markets for the company in places like the Channel Islands, France, South Korea and Japan, SIMEC Atlantis noted.

The extension, called “Project Stroma”, will benefit from a revenue support package of EUR 16.8 million (USD 19m) under the NER300 programme of the European Commission (EC). SIMEC Atlantis said the needed technical and environmental studies are in progress. It is aiming for first power generation through the subsea connection hub in late 2019, subject to consents and funding.

The existing MeyGen system, completed this spring, has a capacity of 6 MW, or 1.5 MW per turbine, and is touted as the world's largest tidal stream array. It represents phase 1A of a much bigger project, planned to one day reach 398 MW. According to SIMEC Atlantis’ estimates, the additional 4 MW of capacity will lift the yield from the array by roughly 40%.

“Project Stroma will be an important enabler for the subsequent extension of the MeyGen site by a further 80MW, and ultimately to the full site capacity of 400MW,” said CEO Tim Cornelius.

SIMEC Atlantis was known as Atlantis Resources until June, when a tie-up with a GFG Alliance unit was completed.

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