The MeyGen tidal energy project site in the Pentland Firth, Scotland has reached a major milestone with first power produced at the site.
Developer Atlantis Resources says that a 1.5 MW tidal turbine has been successfully installed and connected to an onshore grid export point.
The turbine, provided by Andritz Hydro Hammerfest (AFH), is the first of four 1.5MW tidal stream turbines set for installation at the site in the first, 6MW phase of the project.
Atlantis hopes to eventually expand the site to a 400MW scheme. A second, 6MW phase will start construction in 2017, the firm said.
“This is the moment we have been working towards since we first identified the MeyGen site back in 2007,” said Atlantis CEO, Tim Cornelius. “I look forward to bringing more news of the project development over the coming weeks and months as we move into the full operational phase.
“The success of this first phase is a foundation for the tidal industry to build upon to ensure we develop a new energy sector which can deliver clean, predictable and affordable power from the UK’s own abundant resources.”
