In a seven day continuous generation test last month, the SR2000 generated more than 116 MWh in under a week. Over the seven day period, the turbine met the electricity demand of nearly 7 percent of the entire Orkney Islands, with shorter periods where that contribution exceeded 25 percent of demand. The SR2000 is currently the largest and most powerful tidal turbine in the world.
“We are tremendously pleased with these latest results from the test programme” said Andrew Scott, CEO of Scotrenewables, speaking about the SR2000’s performance. “The SR2000 has met, and in many instances exceeded expectations, and combined with the fact this is the world’s most powerful operating tidal turbine it means we’re making a material contribution to the generation mix in Orkney with just this single unit”.
Scottish Government Minister for Business, Innovation and Energy Paul Wheelhouse commenting on the news, added that he visited Orkney a year ago just as Scotrenewables was starting its test programme for the SR2000 turbine at EMEC and that he is delighted to hear it has passed the seven day continuous generation test with flying colours.
Scotrenewables Tidal Power Limited is an innovative Scottish engineering company focused on the development of a tidal energy turbine technology with the potential to produce a step-change reduction in the cost of energy from tidal currents. The company’s novel floating technology offers a low cost solution for simplified and safe manufacture, installation, access and maintenance along with the ability to use low cost, small workboats for all offshore operations. The company currently employs 26 staff with offices in Orkney and Edinburgh.
The technology has been under continuous engineering development, including rigorous testing of scaled systems in both tank conditions and open ocean environments, since the company was founded in Orkney in 2002. In 2012 the company achieved a world’s first when it exported power to the UK grid from its 250kW floating scale model.
The current SR2000, the world’s largest operating tidal turbine, was launched from the Harland & Wolff shipyard, Belfast, in May 2016 before being towed to Orkney. The project has been supported by Scottish Enterprise’s WATERS II scheme along with investments from Scotrenewables’ shareholders which include ABB, DP Energy, Fred Olsen, Total and Scottish Government via the Renewable Energy Investment Fund (REIF).
Scotrenewables has been selected by the European Commission to lead on the engineering and delivery of an enhanced model of the SR2000 machine. Leveraging £7 million Horizon 2020 funding Scotrenewables will lead an industrial consortium to optimise the SR2000 under the “FloTEC” project which is scheduled to run until 2019.
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