Lloyd’s Register to certify ‘world’s largest’ tidal energy converter

Marine classification society, Lloyd’s Register (LR), has signed an agreement with Scotland-based renewable energy company Orbital Marine Power to start the certification process for what is described as the “world’s largest” tidal energy converter (TEC).

Orbital’s upcoming O2-X TEC will generate 2.4 MW of electrical power once operational.

The assessment will follow the international standard for Technology Qualification (IEC TS 62600-4) and the related IECRE operational document (OD 310-4). IECRE stands for the IEC System for Certification of Equipment for Use in Renewable Energy Applications. 

LR said it had assigned ten specialists to evaluate various aspects of the TEC according to these documents and other relevant IEC and ISO standards. The primary assessment will lead to an IECRE Feasibility Statement for the TEC.

The IECRE technology qualification process involves both verification and validation of the technology. Verification results in an IECRE Feasibility Statement, while validation leads to an IECRE Conformity Statement.

After the technology qualification process is complete, the technology can proceed to certification through other IECRE marine energy certification processes, such as Prototype and Type certification.

“I am delighted to recognise Orbital Marine Power’s interest in the IECRE certification process for the assessment of the world largest TEC,” said Winston D’Souza, Global Technical Authority for Offshore Renewables at Lloyd’s Register.

“As the only IECRE RECB with a scope to assess this TEC in accordance with applicable international standards and processes, Lloyd’s Register is pleased to lead the assessment of the O2-X TEC to meet Orbital’s commitments in regions where their tidal energy converters are expected to operate.” 

The Orbital O2 2 MW turbine features a 74-meter-long cylindrical floating steel superstructure. This structure contains power conversion and auxiliary systems and supports two leg structures with nacelles attached at their ends.

Orbital Marine’s first O2 machine is deployed in the waters off Orkney, and it has been exporting electricity as the world’s most powerful tidal turbine to the UK grid since July 2021.

It completed operational financing in 2022 and is expected to offset around 2,000 tonnes of CO2 per year and power 1,700 homes.

The Scottish company was also named Euclaire Tidal’s technology partner at the Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE). The agreement covers one 2.4 MW O2X tidal energy device to be deployed at the FORCE facility in the fast-flowing waters of the Minas Passage.

Among the recipients of the TEAMER program that recently approved $2.1 million in funding for 13 projects through its thirteenth Request for Technical Support (RFTS), Orbital Marine Power secured support for a project named “Site identification framework and environmental compliance for floating ocean current turbines in U.S. waters”.

The project will be carried out in collaboration with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Florida Atlantic University.