Sustainable Marine Energy is conducting submergence tests of its first semi-submerged Plato tidal platform to be deployed at the European Marine Energy Centre off Orkney.
The 100kW device featuring two 50kW Schottel SIT turbines is being tested at Hatston Pier outside Kirkwall.
The Isle of Wight developer’s system will be deployed at Berth 7 at EMEC’s grid-connected Fall of Warness site in the coming weeks.
SME plans to deploy four further Platos featuring four 62kW-rated Schottel turbine in an array, with the first device installed on its own.
Plato is deployed 10-15 metres below the surface to maximise yield and is taut moored to the seabed for stability.
Image: Plato tidal device (SME)
