MeyGen: Grid-connection works progressing well

The foundations, steelwork and cladding have been completed for the MeyGen’s Power Conversion Utility Building, and the onshore project is ready for electrical fit out works.

Once completed, the building will house power conversion equipment for the turbines, 33 kV switchgear for grid connection, and a control centre for controlling the offshore tidal array.

The building will also include an indoor substation for SSE grid connection equipment and offices for MeyGen project operations team.

In addition, Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution has completed 17 km onshore cable installation campaign with the final section of the cable brought into the MeyGen onshore building this month.

When commissioning works, planned to take place in April 2016, are completed this will be the world’s largest tidal energy grid connection, according to Atlantis Resources.

MeyGen is classified as a Large Power Station by National Grid and hence has a requirement to satisfy the stringent UK grid code.

This will be the first tidal energy project to go through this process and demonstrates the scale of this project, Atlantis said.

When fully constructed 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.

Three of the turbines are being supplied by Andritz Hydro Hammerfest. Andritz is currently completing the assembly of three 1.5 MW tidal turbine generators at its Ravensberg factory in Germany. Following the factory testing, the turbines are due for delivery in the summer 2016.

Atlantis has started the fabrication and assembly of the fourth 1.5 MW turbine, designed by Lockheed Martin. Delivery of the AR1500 will take place once the testing has been concluded at the NAREC facility in Blyth.