The first turbine in the Shetland tidal array has successfully exported power to the grid. The 100 kW Nova M100 device has passed an extensive series of commissioning tests, and is now fully operational.
Edinburgh-based Nova Innovation and Belgian green energy company ELSA installed the array in February. It is now connected to the SSE NINES grid management system, which enables increased renewable energy capacity on a congested grid.
The Shetland Tidal Array, in the Bluemull Sound, will be one of the world’s first in-sea tidal arrays when the first three devices are fully installed.
Simon Forrest, Managing Director, Nova Innovation, said: “Completing this first phase of commissioning is an important milestone for the project and our company. It shows that, through collaboration, a pan-European partnership between a Scottish manufacturing company and a Belgian developer can deliver a world-leading project.”
The Shetland tidal array consists of three 100 kW Nova M100 turbines, with more turbines planned in following phases. Nova Innovation has delivered a project with over 80% Scottish supply chain content, and over 25% of the spend in Shetland alone.
The project has already achieved a number of significant firsts – including first offshore tidal array project to achieve financial close and first to proceed with a significant share of debt funding.
IAN MARCHANT, Chairman of Nova Innovation, is one of the key speakers at SCOTLAND’S RENEWABLE FUTURE forum being held at Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation on 26 May 2016.
For more information: – http://www.scotlandsrenewablefuture.co.uk/
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