SIMEC Atlantis scores €1 million for MeyGen upgrades

SIMEC Atlantis Energy has signed a grant agreement with the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund for €1 million in funding to support its tidal turbine development program.

The grant will enable SIMEC Atlantis and its supply chain partner Asturfeito to enhance the existing 6MW MeyGen project.

It will support the innovations specifically focused on the turbine upgrades needed to use the subsea hub and shared export cable, the project consortium said.

Drew Blaxland, Director of Turbine and Engineering Services of SIMEC Atlantis Energy, said: “The AR1500 turbine installed at the MeyGen project in 2017 marked the first commercial scale turbine installed in a tidal array.

“Following this successful deployment and record-breaking operation of the AR1500 turbine we now look to the future and where opportunities to reduce the LCOE exist.”

Ricardo Rodriguez, General Manager of Asturfeito, added: “By providing our experience in subsea, oil & gas and offshore wind from the design stage, and using our capability to manufacture, integrate and test complex assemblies, we can support the development of cost effective turbines.”

SIMEC Atlantis Energy is the global developer, owner and operator of sustainable energy projects with a diverse portfolio of more than 1,000MW in various stages of development.

This includes a 77% stake in the world’s largest tidal stream power project, MeyGen, and the conversion of the 220MW Uskmouth Power Station.