A subsea turbine which
uses tidal power to generate electricity has successfully completed initial
tests off Orkney. The turbine was
lowered into position during winter storms and Scottish Power Renewables said
it was performing well. The 100ft-high 1MW (megawatt) Hammerfest Strom HS1000
device is already powering homes and businesses on the island of Eday. There
are plans to create a 10MW tidal power array in the Sound of Islay. Testing
began in December and has been designed to finalise the timetable for the Islay
project, with machines being installed "as early as feasible" between
2013 and 2015. Keith Anderson, SPR chief executive, said: "The performance
of the first HS1000 device has given us great confidence so far. Engineers were
able install the device during atrocious weather conditions, and it has been
operating to a very high standard ever since. "We have already greatly
developed our understanding of tidal power generation, and this gives us
confidence ahead of implementing larger scale projects in Islay and the
Pentland Firth. "Scotland has the best tidal power resources in Europe,
and that's why we are seeing world leading technologies tested here." The
turbine can be monitored from the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) base in
Eday, but engineers can also operate and inspect the device from Glasgow using
mobile connections and an on-board camera.
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