Construction progressing well at MeyGen site

Following the successful punching through of the second bore hole, the construction at the MeyGen tidal array site north of Caithness, Scotland, is making a good progress.

According to Atlantis Resources’ social media, the drilling works are progressing well with the company now halfway through the horizontal directional drilling (HDD) process for the laying of the subsea cables.

HDD is a commonly used construction process in utility industries that involves the installation of underground pipes to provide a path for the insertion of subsea cables to avoid disturbing the shoreline, intertidal and near shore areas.

The first directional drilling hole was punched through on April 21, followed by the second bore hole drilled on May 29, according to Atlantis’ social media.

The drilling will create the bores for the cables which will connect the onshore site at Ness of Quoys with the four subsea turbines planned for the Phase 1A of the Meygen tidal project.

Each of the four bores will be approximately 550 m long. They are designed to contain a 4.4 kVA cable that will export the electricity.

Onshore works at MeyGen site are expected to continue throughout 2015.

The drilling is expected to take four months and will be carried out by Manchester-based O’Connor Utilities Ltd.

Situated in the Pentland Firth, the MeyGen tidal array will consist of 269 submerged tidal turbines, with 398 MW capacity, enough to power 175.000 Scottish homes.

In Phase 1A of the project, four submerged turbines generating 6 MW will be installed off Caithness, with the first power expected to be delivered in 2016.

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Images: Atlantis Resources