MeyGen project officially unveiled by Nicola Sturgeon as scheme remains on course to deliver first power to grid later this year
Tidal developer Atlantis Resources has officially unveiled its flagship MeyGen project, after assembly was completed on the four 200-tonne turbines that make up the first phase of the scheme.
The project, located in the Pentland Firth off the Scottish coast, is the world's largest free stream tidal plant, with its 269 underwater turbines set to supply up to 400MW of electricity to the grid by 2020.
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The ceremony, which took place on Monday at the Nigg Energy Park in Scotland, follows the successful connection of MeyGen to a distribution network in June 2016 via an underground export cable. The scheme is set to deliver its first power to the grid later this year.
Speaking at the event, Tim Cornelius, chief executive of Atlantis, called it an "historic milestone" for the global tidal power industry. "This is the day the tidal power industry announced itself as the most exciting new asset class of renewable, sustainable generation in the UK's future energy mix," he said. "This is an industry that is creating jobs and is contributing to making Britain great again and Scotland is the undisputed world leader of this high growth sector."
Also speaking at the ceremony, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon praised the industry as she unveiled one of the turbines, which boast a height of 15 metres and 18-metre long blades.
"I am incredibly proud of Scotland's role in leading the way in tackling climate change, and investment in marine renewables is a hugely important part of this," she said. "MeyGen is set to invigorate the marine renewables industry in Scotland and provide vital jobs for a skilled workforce, retaining valuable offshore expertise here in Scotland that would otherwise be lost overseas. There is no doubt that the eyes of the world are on this project."
Industry groups welcomed the latest landmark in the development of the project. Maf Smith, deputy chief executive of Renewable UK, called the project "a major step forward in terms of scale".
"The official launch of the largest tidal stream energy project in the world marks a significant moment in the commercial development of marine power," he said in a statement. "It clearly demonstrates the economic opportunities being created in the UK, which other countries are eyeing enviously - Britain is driving innovation, attracting investment and creating jobs."
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