Scotrenewables launches 2MW kit

Scotrenewables Tidal Power launched its 2MW SR2000 tidal turbine at Harland & Wolff Heavy Industries in Belfast today.

The 550-tonne machine is the first commercial-scale unit built by the company. It will undergo preliminary tow trials in Belfast Lough before being towed to the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.

Once transported to EMEC, the turbine will start a grid-connected test programme, said Scotrenewables.

Fabrication of the SR2000 was carried out by companies in Scotland, Northern Ireland and England, with assembly and commissioning taking place at Harland & Wolff’s shipyard over the past 12 months.

It follows Scotrenewables’ floating generating platform philosophy, which the company said will “deliver a step-change cost and risk reduction to the commercial tidal energy sector”.

The turbine has taken more than 12 years work to bring to fruition and has been supported by £1.25m funding under the Scottish Government’s Waters2 initiative.

Further investment of more than £25m has come from ABB, the Scottish government’s Renewable Energy Investment Fund, DP Energy, Fred Olsen Group and Total New Energies.  

Scotrenewables chief executive officer Andrew Scott said: “We’re now looking forward to getting the machine up to EMEC and start the test programme to demonstrate more of the clear engineering and cost advantages our approach can bring to the commercial tidal sector.”

Image: Scotrenewables SR2000 tidal turbine (Scotrenewables)