World's largest tidal power plant to be built in Scotland

The largest tidal energy harvesting project has moved one step further after Atlantis Resources announced the completion of $83 million in funding a few days ago. The amount of US$1,300 has begun preparatory work.

When the project is completed, MeyGen, a 398 MW underwater turbine array, will provide clean, sustainable energy for 175,000 homes in Scotland while reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

“MeyGen will be the largest array of tidal generators in the world, powering 175,000 homes and creating 100 new jobs,” Energy Secretary Ed Dave said in a statement. “Waves and tides have the potential to supply 20 per cent of the UK’s electricity needs.”

Funding for the project has been received from the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change, Scottish Enterprise (a sponsored non-agency state body of the Scottish Government that encourages economic development), Highlands and Islands Enterprise (Scottish State Agency for Economic and Social Development), The Crown Estate (a budget owned by the Crown) and Atlantis.



Atlantis Resources, the parent company of the MeyGen project, managed to raise approximately £50 million to start the initiation phase of the project, including the installation of four 1.5 megawatt turbines, as well as the onshore infrastructure needed to support the project. Once completed, the project will include 269 underwater turbines installed on the seabed. During the first phase, 61 turbines will be installed, providing enough power for 42,000 homes.

Construction is slated to begin later this year, with the first electricity due to enter the national grid by 2016.



The first four turbines are part of the 86 megawatt “demonstration” phase of the MeyGen project, which will eventually have a rated capacity of 398 MW. In the long term, such a project could have huge benefits – not only due to the growing opportunities for clean power generation, but also due to the promotion of marine renewable energy in general.

A report published last month in Bloomberg New Energy Finance made it clear that the development of offshore renewable energy has taken much longer than originally thought. However, as Angus McCrone, a senior analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, noted, “The MeyGen project is clearly receiving substantial political support, with a large share of funding coming from the public sector” – the kind of support that will clearly be needed in the future.

Source: facepla.net