Scotrenewables Tidal Power has completed deployment of its modular anchoring system at Orkney’s European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in preparation for the installation of its SR2000 2MW floating tidal turbine.
The anchor deployment formed part of an innovative tidal anchors project for floating technologies, which was carried out in partnership with McLaughlin & Harvey, SeaRoc and Scotmarine.
Pre-cast fibre reinforced concrete anchor modules were manufactured by McLaughlin & Harvey at a casting yard specifically set up within the harbour complex.
The modules were then transported to the quayside at Hatston, Orkney and placed on the sea-bed adjacent to the quayside using local heavy lifting engineers Heddle Construction.
Scotmarine’s MV Orcadia II workboat delivered the anchor modules, each in excess of 64 tonnes, to the EMEC tidal test site, some 30km away.
With the last module now installed, final tests will come with the SR2000 expected to be connected onsite in the coming months.
Scotrenewables chief executive Andrew Scott said: “The floating tidal anchors project has demonstrated how inexpensive gravity anchor materials can be utilised in conjunction with a highly innovative deployment approach towards a low cost anchoring solution for floating tidal installations.”
The project was supported by the Scottish Government’s Marine Renewables Commercialisation Fund, which was established to support the development of enabling technology for marine energy arrays and by Invest NI.
Image: SR2000 tidal turbine (Scotrenewables)
