SIMEC Atlantis Energy, world-leaders in tidal power generation, chose ORE Catapult to prove and de-risk its next-generation AR1500 turbine. Ahead of its deployment at Meygen, the world’s largest planned tidal stream project, in the Pentland Firth, the turbine underwent a rigorous representative testing programme.
The tides in the Firth, which connect the North Sea and the Atlantic ocean, are among the fastest in the world. Millions of tonnes of water surge through the area every day, accelerated by a natural channel. At our testing centre in Blyth, our state-of-the-art 3MW powertrain test facility simulated the extreme dynamic loading conditions that the AR1500 will experience in the water. By carrying out controlled tests on the turbine in conditions as close as possible to the tidal environment, we gave Atlantis the confidence to move forward with the deployment phase. It also helped Atlantis reduce the length of the offshore commissioning phase: a particularly expensive period of the project.
At our testing centre in Blyth, our state-of-the-art 3MW powertrain test facility simulated the extreme dynamic loading conditions that the AR1500 will experience in the water. By carrying out controlled tests on the turbine in conditions as close as possible to the tidal environment, we gave Atlantis the confidence to move forward with the deployment phase.
Testing was completed within the 21-day schedule, and the AR1500 was shipped north for installation in 2017.
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