UNITED KINGDOM
TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION
TEST SITES
The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC)
EMEC is the only accredited wave and tidal test centre for ocean energy in the world, suitable for testing multiple technologies simultaneously in harsh weather conditions. The Centre offers two grid-connected test sites – one for tide and one for wave – and also has two scale test sites allowing smaller scale devices or those at an earlier stage of development to gain real sea experience.
2016 saw EMEC host more new demonstration projects, with 27 devices from 17 companies now having been tested on site. EMEC’s alumni include the first tidal turbines at the MeyGen site from Atlantis and Andritz Hydro Hammerfest, as well as longest standing client OpenHydro installing a turbine in the Bay of Fundy (a scaled-up version of the 6m turbines they have been testing at EMEC since 2007). Scotrenewables’ 550-tonne 2MW tidal turbine arrived at EMEC in 2016, as well as Sustainable Marine Energy (SME) who successfully installed four subsea drilled rock anchors at its Fall of Warness for their first PLAT-O system, which hosts two SCHOTTEL Instream Turbines (SIT).
One of the biggest EMEC projects starting in 2016 was the launch of FORESEA – a new €11m European programme to support open sea testing for ocean energy. Led by EMEC, the FORESEA (Funding Ocean Renewable Energy through Strategic European Action) project provides funding support to ocean energy technology developers to access Europe’s world-leading ocean energy test facilities. The first call for applications was closed in September, with ten successful ocean energy developers announced.
Wave Hub
Wave Hub is a pre-installed grid connected site approximately 10 nautical miles (16 km) off the north coast of Cornwall for the testing of large scale offshore renewable energy devices. The site has a Section 36 electricity consent and holds a 25-year lease for 8 square kilometres of seabed divided into four separate berths. Wave Hub is owned by BEIS and operated by Wave Hub Limited.
In late 2016, Carnegie Clean Energy confirmed that it intends to develop a 15 MW array of the CETO 6 wave energy converter at the Wave Hub site. As work on this development ramps up, Wave Hub continues to focus on environmental survey and consenting work.
OPERATIONAL DEPLOYMENTS
MeyGen
The MeyGen array, operated by Atlantis Resources in Scotland’s Pentland Firth, made significant construction progress in 2016. 2017 is due to be spent expanding the array to a capacity of 6 MW, thus completing phase 1A of the project. Full capacity across all phases is to be up to 398 MW.
Nova Innovation Shetland
Nova Innovation are currently exporting power from two turbines installed off the coast of Shetland in Scotland, with a third turbine due to go live in early 2017.
PLANNED DEPLOYMENTS
EMEC
Several wave and tidal developers (including CorPower, Laminaria, Tocardo Tidal Power and Nautricity) are due to run test and demonstration projects at EMEC in the course of 2017.
Fairhead Tidal
DP Energy continue to progress through planning and consenting processes with a view to install a tidal stream array at Fairhead in Northern Ireland. The first phase is to involve 4 to 6 turbines and up to 10 MW, while the full scale array is likely to be in the region of 100 MW capacity.
Scotrenewables Lashy Sound
Scotrenewables Tidal Power are applying for consent to deploy a 10 MW array at Lashy Sound in Orkney, Scotland. This array will make use of Scotrenewables’ floating tidal turbine concept.
Swansea Bay Lagoon Tidal Lagoon Power Ltd. have plans to construct a 320 MW capacity tidal lagoon scheme in Swansea Bay, Wales. Consent was awarded in 2015 and the company plans for construction to begin in 2018.
Carnegie Wave Hub
Carnegie Clean Energy have entered an agreement to install a 15 MW array at the Wave Hub site in Cornwall, England, using their CETO 6 wave energy converter.
Tidal Power Scotland Ltd (TPSL)
Atlantis Resources is the majority owner of the TPSL holding company. TPSL holds the rights to develop several tidal energy projects in Scotland including Sound of Islay, Ness of Duncansby, Brough Ness and Mull of Galloway.
