SIMEC Atlantis AR1500 Tidal Turbine
MeyGen site, Pentland Firth, Scotland · Deployed from 2016, re-deployed March 2022 [1] [2]
The judgement call
Account-gated at launchThe AR1500 is a key component of the MeyGen project, which is the largest operational tidal stream project in the world. It has demonstrated high monthly output, showcasing the potential of tidal turbine technology. [4]
Key engineering challenges
Designing a robust turbine to operate in high-flow, harsh tidal environments. [1] - Ensuring efficient power generation from tidal currents. [1] - Developing reliable deployment and re-deployment mechanisms for maintenance. [2]
Project facts
- Client / owner
- SIMEC Atlantis Energy (now SAE Renewables)
- Lead contractor
- —
- Lead designers
- SIMEC Atlantis Energy
- Project type
- new build (turbine development and deployment)
- Scale
- 1.5 MW rated capacity at 3.0 m/s water speed; 18 m rotor diameter; designed to withstand speeds as high as 5 m/s. [1] [3]
- Disciplines
- marine; mechanical; electrical; hydrodynamics; materials science
- Standards & frameworks
- Marine energy standards.
Sources: Tethys: MeyGen Tidal Energy Project (https://tethys.pnnl.gov/project-sites/meygen-tidal-energy-project) [1] - Ocean Energy Europe: SIMEC Atlantis Energy successfully re-deploys world's most powerful tidal turbine (https://www.oceanenergy-europe.eu/simec-atlantis-energy-successfully-re-deploys-worlds-most-powerful-tidal-turbine/) [2] - Open Energy Information: SAE AR1500 (https://openei.org/wiki/PRIMRE/Databases/Projects_Database/Devices/SAE_AR1500) [3] - Offshore Energy: MeyGen tidal turbine delivers highest-ever output since installation (https://www.offshore-energy.biz/meygen-tidal-turbine-delivers-highest-ever-output-since-installation/) [4]