Orkney tidal specialists to set up Japanese energy demo.

Orkney-based offshore marine energy construction specialist Green Marine is exporting its skills to Japan as part of a tidal energy demonstration project.

Simec Atlantis Energy, which developed and tested its tidal turbines on the MeyGen project in the Pentland Firth, has signed a contract to supply tidal generation equipment and offshore construction services to Japan’s Kyuden Mirai Energy for a demonstration project in the straits of Naru Island within the southern Japanese Goto island chain.

The Atlantis Turbine and Engineering Services Division (ATES) will supply and install an AR-Series turbine which will run at a reduced output of 500kW as a data collection and validation device for the client and Japanese regulatory bodies.

Atlantis expects to deliver and install the tidal generator next summer, with the possibility of increasing the capacity of the scheme once the demonstration project is completed.

In an industry first, Atlantis will be exporting Scottish tidal generation equipment to be used for the duration of the project under a rental agreement.

Atlantis will be responsible for the supply installation and operation of the turbine system, inclusive of foundation and cable supply, and has brought on Green Marine to bolster offshore construction planning and installation support for the cable and foundation.

Green Marine's managing director Jason Schofield said: “For Green Marine to have the opportunity to export our services overseas to Japan is an honour and a huge step for our company.

“This is an important development for the global tidal energy sector and we are pleased to be at the forefront of the internationalisation of an industry that is now on a steep growth trajectory.

“We look forward to getting into the detailed engineering and planning over the coming months and the final installation offshore in the Goto Islands along with Japanese companies.”

Tim Cornelius, chief executive officer of Simec Atlantis Energy, said: “SIMEC Atlantis has been at the forefront of marine energy for the past decade, building a strong portfolio of projects across Europe and around the world. Japan’s decarbonisation ambitions and world-leading tidal resource combine to create huge potential for Atlantis’ tidal generation systems in the future.

“This is our largest awarded export contract to date and our partnership with Kyuden Mirai Energy is representative of the leadership position SIMEC Atlantis has taken in exporting Scottish know how and expertise into new international markets.”

13 November 2019