Scottish Power Renewables has successfully installed the world’s first tidal energy turbine near the island of Eday, one of Orkney’s northern isles. A 100′ tall HS1000 tidal turbine developed by Andritz Hdyro Hammerfest is producing power for more than 500 homes and businesses already, and more are scheduled for installation to complete the tidal energy farm.
From Scottish Power Renewables press release:
The test device in Orkney aims to fully prove that the technology can operate efficiently in Scotland’s fast flowing tides, that monitoring and maintenance operations can be honed and to help drive down costs in operations and installation. ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) plan to use this technology as part of the world’s first tidal turbine array in the Sound of Islay. The company’s plans to develop a 10MW tidal array in Islay received planning consent from the Scottish Government in March 2011.
Keith Anderson, CEO of ScottishPower Renewables said: “The concept of generating electricity from the natural movement of the tide is still relatively new – and test projects like this are vital to help us understand how we can fully realise the potential of this substantial energy source.
“The performance of the first HS1000 device has given us great confidence so far. Engineers were able install the device during atrocious weather conditions, and it has been operating to a very high standard ever since. We have already greatly developed our understanding of tidal power generation, and this gives us confidence ahead of implementing larger scale projects in Islay and the Pentland Firth.
“Scotland has the best tidal power resources in Europe, and that’s why we are seeing world leading technologies tested here. This device is already providing renewable electricity for Orkney, but the potential is there in our waters to make a significant contribution towards our overall energy needs and our carbon reduction targets.”
Watch the clip: Scotland Tonight looked at the experimantal development, and spoke to Alan Mortimer, the Head of Innovation at Scottish Power Renewables.
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