Scottish tidal stream turbine developer Orbital Marine Power has picked a UK company to produce the composite blades for its device.
A C Marine and Composites (ACMC) will produce the 10-metre blades at its factory in Gosport, Hampshire on the south coast of England.
ACMC will supply blades for both of Orbital’s O2 tidal turbine’s twin rotors, four blades in total, giving the machine a swept area of over 600 square meters, the largest on a tidal turbine.
The O2, capable of generating over 2MW from tidal stream resources, will be the most powerful tidal turbine when it enters operation later next year, as part of a long-term project at the European Marine Energy Centre, Orkney.
Orbital said that improvements in design have allowed for a rotor diameter increase of 4 metres on the company’s previous 2MW SR2000 turbine.
Orbital chief executive Andrew Scott said: “Gosport’s ACMC has an impressive track record in delivering high quality composites solutions to a range of sectors including marine energy.
“We are delighted that they are supporting the commercialisation of our technology through the O2 project. We believe this contract demonstrates the strong potential for the UK’s advanced materials sector to supply high value components to the emerging, global tidal stream market.”
ACMC director Alex Newton said: “We are extremely proud to have been awarded this contract by Orbital Marine so becoming part of the wider UK supply chain for the O2 project.
“This is also a great opportunity for A C Marine & Composites to work on a project that will have a positive impact on the environment, whilst reaffirming the UK’s commitment to renewables.”