Asia and Oceania

Atlantis completes construction at Scotland’s MeyGen, announces supply deal in China

Marine energy developer Atlantis Resources has reached a significant milestone with its MeyGen tidal stream array, announcing construction on Phase 1A is complete and entering what is expected to be a 25-year operational period.
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Atlantis completes construction at Scotland’s MeyGen, announces supply deal in China

Marine energy developer Atlantis Resources has reached a significant milestone with its MeyGen tidal stream array, announcing construction on Phase 1A is complete and entering what is expected to be a 25-year operational period.

The news comes after Atlantis completed the installation of four generating units at the site — located in the Pentland Firth near Orkney, Scotland — last year. Since connecting to the grid, the Edinburgh-based developer said the units have already generated about 6 GWh-worth of power, setting a new world record for tidal stream monthly production in March with 1,400 MWh.

“We are incredibly proud of this achievement and this provides a solid platform for building out the full capacity at MeyGen and many other similar sites worldwide,” Atlantis CEO Tim Cornelius said. “This achievement is a great triumph of public policy and a demonstration of what can be achieved when government and the private sector roll their sleeves up and decide to create a whole new industry together.”

Atlantis acquired MeyGen through an all-share deal with MCT in May 2015, which had in turn purchased the majority stake in the company from Siemens in February 2012.

The site could ultimately be expanded to a cumulative output capacity near 400 MW, should Atlantis receive the required consents and grid connection agreements.

“This is a real success story for MeyGen, for the tidal sector and for Scotland,” said John Robertson, Senior Energy and Infrastructure Manager at the Crown Estate Scotland, which manages Atlantis’ seabed lease. “We are incredibly pleased to have been part of this and look forward to supporting MeyGen and the other tidal energy projects in Scottish waters as the sector strengthens and grows.”

Further growth abroad
Atlantis is seen as a global leader in marine energy development, with a supply deal already signed with Indonesia’s SBS Energi Kelautan and a strategic partnership with South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co.

Atlantis bolstered its push into Asia earlier this week through a partnership with U.K.-based developer ITPEnergised.

The consortium will help deliver a 450 kW tidal stream turbine to China Three Gorges, which is expected to be operational at a test center in China’s Zhoushan Islands by the end of 2019.

Per the deal, Atlantis is to provide engineering designs for the turbine system to the China Shipbuilding Industry Corp., which will then manufacture the unit, and its third partner, Zhejiang University.

“This is an excellent opportunity to showcase the depth of knowledge we have accumulated in tidal technology and development, working with ITPEnergised to ensure that their client receives a demonstrator turbine system that exceeds all expectations,” said Drew Blaxland, Atlantis’ Diretor of Turbines and Engineering Services. “Supporting the eventual delivery and operation of the system, and proving performance and reliability standards in Chinese waters will be a momentum change catalyst to accelerate larger scale marine energy development in China.”