Winter performance statistics from Orkney-based Scotrenewables Tidal Power confirm its tidal current turbine delivered continued generating electricity throughout heavy North Atlantic storms which have battered the Islands.
Its surface-floating SR2000 endured wave heights of over 20 feet. The turbine also managed to maintain continuous generation in sea states of over 12-ft significant wave height and maintained 2MW rated power in seas of 6-ft significant wave height – demonstrating the turbine is capable of generating through around 99% of conditions experienced at the Orkney site.
Scotrenewables has been testing the SR2000 – the world’s most powerful tidal stream turbine, at the European Marine Energy Centre test site since August last year and it will continue to run through 2018.
Over the past five months, it has generated more than 1.2GWh of electricity.
The company also confirmed it has been using only low-cost support boats for all turbine maintenance and inspections through the period, and has demonstrated service response times of under 1 hour, along with ship-to-turbine crew transfers in up to 6-ft significant wave heights.
Chief executive Andrew Scott said: “In only our first winter operating the 2MW unit, wehave already fully validated its strong performance and stability in really harsh conditions.
“Low-cost tidal energy is dependent on being able to maintain turbines cost effectively and maximise generator up-time.”
17 Jan 2018
Pixie Energy is an incubator and a facilitator of strategic research and project work, focusing on energy regulation, policy and markets at the local and national level. Find out more about Pixie Energy