UK-based marine renewable energy developer SBS has submitted a preliminary grid extension feasibility study to Indonesia’s state-owned electrical utility as part of Nautilus tidal energy project development.
The preliminary feasibility study, which explored the options to expand the grid on Lombok Island to accommodate the electricity that will be fed by the Nautilus tidal energy array, is now being internally reviewed by the utility PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) .
SBS has agreed exclusive ocean energy resource site-development rights with PLN for the project whose first phase will see the installation of eight 1.5MW turbines on behalf of independent power producer, SBS Energi Kelautan .
The turbines for the first phase, expected to be completed in 30 months, will be supplied by Edinburgh-based tidal energy developer SIMEC Atlantis Energy .
Michael J. Spencer , SBS Group Chairman & CEO, said: “Following successful lobbying for tidal energy to be included in the Indonesian Government’s Energy Ministry list of approved renewable energy technologies, which established a legal basis for tidal energy projects, the Nautilus project has achieved significant progress toward inclusion in PLN’s 10-year business plan.
“We are very pleased to submit this preliminary grid extension feasibility study report requested by PLN and honored to assist PLN with its planning for this significant marine energy power generation project.”
In October 2017, SBS Energi Kelautan reached the final investment decision (FID) for the first phase of the Nautilus project.
The power produced from the project will be sold to PLN under a 30-year power purchase agreement, the developers said earlier.
The 12MW phase will be followed by site expansions to 70MW in the second phase, and the project will ultimately have 150MW of capacity after the third and final phase.
The project sites in Indonesia are located in the straits around islands of Bali and Lombok.