The signed agreement strengthens the relationship between the two organisations, and sees EMEC use its experience and knowledge as a tidal test site operator to advance the Korean test site development.
KIOST are developing a grid-connected tidal energy test site development on the Jang-Juk Strait in the southwestern sea of Korea. The Korea Tidal Current Energy Centre (K-TEC) site, which will have a 4.5 MW grid capacity, is expected to be operational by 2022. Having managed the design, build and operation of its four marine test facilities over the last seventeen years in Orkney, EMEC have been contracted to deliver technical support to KIOST.
An EMEC technical report will review operational elements of the test site design including the cable layout, protection, and maintenance as well as data acquisition and SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems, electrical infrastructure, and grid connection.
As the KIOST site is a new development, EMEC will also assess the likelihood of any environmental impacts associated with tidal energy projects on the marine ecosystem and provide guidance on environmental monitoring strategies for use at the site.
“The K-TEC facility is an important development for the tidal sector, and proof of its growing commercial readiness and expansion beyond Europe” said Rob Flynn, Commercial Manager at the European Marine Energy Centre. “KIOST and Korea have incredibly strong background in ocean science and engineering, and it’s encouraging to see them bring that to the tidal energy sector. Enabling marine energy globally is at the core of what we do at EMEC. We’re happy to bring our experience of operating test sites to bear on this project and help make it a success. I’m really excited to see how this facility develops, and we wish great success for our friends at KIOST.”
Dr. Jin-Soon Park, Director of Coastal Development and Ocean Energy Research Center, at the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, added that the convergence of EMEC's know-how and KIOST's design technology will make the K-TEC facility a safer and more effective tidal energy converter test site and that in addition, it is expected that K-TEC will be able to revitalise the tidal energy industry in Korea and in Asia as well.
For additional information:
