The Orkney-based company is currently nearing the completion of the build of its 2 MW SR2000 system in the Harland & Wolff shipyard in Belfast. The device, which is the first large scale machine the company has built, is due to be launched early next year before being towed to the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney to commence grid connected testing.
The company’s existing shareholders (ABB, Scottish Government’s Renewable Energy Investment Fund/REIF, Total New Energies, Bonheur ASA & Ganger Rolf ASA) were joined by new shareholders DP Energy, Harland & Wolff and Scotmarine to provide the investment to take the SR2000 programme through the next operational phase.
“I am delighted to be supporting Orcadian firm Scotrenewables” said Fergus Ewing, the Scottish Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism. “The £2.65 million investment from our Renewable Energy Investment Fund (REIF) is part of a £5.7 million funding round, which will allow this dynamic company to complete construction of the world’s largest tidal turbine –– and to launch it at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney next year. Scotland is a world leader in marine energy technologies and is committed to supporting ambitious projects like these that help us capitalise on our green energy potential.”
Andrew Smith, Head of REIF, added that the fund believes Scotrenewableshas a significant role to play in securing a leading place for Scotland in the world market for ocean energy.
Andrew Scott, SRTP’s recently appointed CEO, added that the new investment is great news for the SR2000 programme and the team at SRTP who have put a tremendous amount of work into the technology. The company is looking forward to getting the unit in the water next year and demonstrating the step-change advantages it believes it can offer.
Scotrenewables Tidal Power Limited is specialises in the development of a tidal energy turbine technology aimed at producing a step-change reduction in the cost of energy from tidal stream flows, particularly with regard to simplified and safe manufacture, installation, access and maintenance of units along with the ability to use low cost, small workboats for all offshore operations.
The technology has been under continuous engineering development, including rigorous testing of scaled systems in both tank conditions and open ocean environments, since its inception in 2002. Prior to the current SR2000 (2MW) unit the company delivered and operate a 250kW (SR250) generator in 2011, which was the first to export electricity to the UK electricity grid from floating tidal energy at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in 2012.
The Renewable Energy Investment Fund (REIF) was launched in October 2012 with the aim of promoting the use of energy from specific renewable sources and driving further investment into key areas of Scotland’s renewables industry.
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