The 6MW MeyGen tidal energy array off the coast of Scotland has exported nearly 25 gigawatt hours of renewable electricity to the National Grid.
According to a performance update released by the developer Simec Atlantis Energy, in 2019 MeyGen exported over 13.8GWh of renewable electricity, equivalent to the average annual electricity consumption of around 3800 typical UK homes, generating a revenue of £3.9m.
Phase 1A of MeyGen, which operates with five renewable obligation certificates (ROCs), has generated total revenues of £7.1m since starting operations.
Atlantis chief executive Tim Cornelius said: “I am delighted to report that MeyGen has now exported a remarkable 24.7GWh of predictable renewable energy.
“Not only is this world-renowned project helping the UK meet its Net Zero ambitions, but it is also providing valuable performance data which can be used to inform future projects, demonstrating MeyGen’s importance as a global prototype.”
Atlantis’ AR1500 turbine is due to undergo maintenance and will be transported to land for servicing and upgrade work at the end of this month, with redeployment at MeyGen slated for spring.
The upgrade will increase the turbines’ revenue by 4% with no increase in the turbines’ operating cost.
During 2019, Atlantis announced its intention to develop the next phase of its MeyGen array which will see an additional 80MW of tidal capacity added to the existing project site between the island of Stroma and the mainland.
Atlantis said it intends to design, consent and build the “world’s first ocean-powered data centre” near the MeyGen site, connected to the tidal array via a private wire.
A concept study has been completed with design underway to include a connection to the Celtic Norse subsea fibre optic cable currently in development, significantly enhancing Scotland’s international data connectivity.
Atlantis is exploring connections to other international fibre optic cables as well.
The tidal array’s private wire structure with the data centre will provide a route to market for the next phase of the project in lieu of subsidy support for tidal power in the United Kingdom.
Cornelius added: “MeyGen holds a 398MW seabed lease and our data centre expansion project is world leading for a number of reasons. The cost of tidal power continues to reduce and this is being assisted by the sustained pressure the offshore wind market places on the supply chain domestically and abroad.”