MeyGen tidal project prepares for turbine installation and platform recovery

SIMEC Atlantis Energy has scheduled subsea works at the MeyGen Tidal Array in Scotland’s Pentland Firth for late October, aiming to install a tidal turbine and recover monitoring equipment.

SIMEC Atlantis Energy is set to carry out subsea operations at its MeyGen Tidal Array site in Scotland’s Pentland Firth. The works are planned between October 23 to 26 and will focus on installing a tidal turbine along with four four-tonne rock bags. Additionally, the company will recover a scientific monitoring platform deployed earlier. The activities will take place within the Inner Sound.

The MeyGen site has been operational since 2017, and features SIMEC Atlantis’ longest-deployed turbine in continual operation since December 2018, with an average availability of 95%. The turbines are located 20 meters below the frigid waters off the North Coast of Scotland, where the exchange of water between the North Sea and the North Atlantic is squeezed between the Scottish mainland and the Orkney Isles.

In July 2023, SIMEC Atlantis Energy redeployed the tidal energy turbine for the MeyGen project, which underwent significant upgrades to improve performance and reliability. The innovation was said to be a key development in ensuring the next phase of turbines deployed at the MeyGen site are the most advanced and deliver the best performance in the industry, the company said.

The UK government unveiled the results of Allocation Round 6 (AR6) of its contracts for difference (CfD) renewable auction in September 2024, with MeyGen among the key players securing contracts. MeyGen, developed by SIMEC Atlantis Energy, was awarded 9 MW of tidal stream capacity as part of a broader effort to deliver 28 MW across six projects.