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Scotland beckons for an array of PLAT-O systems
Sustainable Marine Energy (SME) Ltd is making a strategic move into the Scottish tidal energy sector having signed a long term testing contract with the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Ltd.
SME will be taking on one of the berths at the Fall of Warness tidal test site where it will deploy five PLAT-O systems in an array over the next two years. This array will host SCHOTTEL SIT turbines and will deliver almost 1MW capacity.
This move has been backed and supported by the Scottish Government with the award of nearly £1.3m from the WATERS3 programme.
To deliver this programme Dave Thomson of Orcades Marine is joining the company as Operations Manager. Dave, who is based in the new SME office in Hatston, Kirkwall, has been involved with SME for over a year, managing the marine operations for the testing of the first PLAT-O at an Isle of Wight test site.
Jason Hayman, Managing Director of SME said: “This has been the result of many months of work and I would like to thank Scottish Enterprise, EMEC and all the SME team for their hard work and support. At a time when commentators are talking the industry down, we can demonstrate that there is a new cost effective model to watch.”
Fergus Ewing, Scottish Minster for Business, Energy and Tourism said: “We welcome Sustainable Marine Energy to Scotland with its commitment to the Scottish economy. As a government we are glad to provide them with the support they need to develop their business in Scotland.”
Neil Kermode, Managing Director at EMEC added: “Sustainable Marine Energy plan to deliver the first tidal array at the Fall of Warness which will be a major milestone for EMEC. We look forward to working with them over the years to come.”
David Thomson, incoming Operations Manager for SME, said: “Having worked with SME, I really believe they have a winning model and I am delighted to be joining them as Operations Director. We will be busy in Orkney for the next couple of years and after that in the wider market.”
Ends
For more media information, photos or to arrange interviews please contact:
Clemency Ives, Communications, Sustainable Marine Energy
Email:
Tel: 01983 297145/ 07717 098836
www.sustainablemarine.com
Lisa MacKenzie, Marketing & Communications Officer, EMEC
Email:
Tel: 01856 852060
www.emec.org.uk
Notes to Editors
ABOUT SUSTAINABLE MARINE ENERGY
Sustainable Marine Energy (SME) is a marine engineering company delivering commercially viable solutions to the tidal industry. SME’s innovative technologies and processes deliver a step change reduction in cost and enhance through-life performance for customers. SME understands the challenges faced by the sector. Ensuring that low cost installation and maintenance operations can be achieved is a fundamental design driver for all of our systems; solving one of tidal energy’s key challenges and enabling the delivery of commercially viable projects.
SME is developing a turnkey tidal energy system, called PLAT-O, fitted with SCHOTTEL SIT turbines. PLAT-O is a moored, buoyant platform that is positioned mid-water column. It provides a comprehensive systems integration solution, exporting grid-compatible power from multiple tidal energy convertors. A 100kW PLAT-O prototype is currently undergoing testing, initially off the Isle of Wight. It will be grid-connected at EMEC during 2015. A 200kW commercial demonstrator will be deployed in 2016, with three more systems to follow - these systems are available for purchase. SME has also developed anchoring and mooring solutions for energetic marine environments
SME’s team of fifteen will be split between East Cowes, Isle of Wight and Kirkwall, Orkney; areas that are well-known for delivering innovation across the maritime sector. SME has been supported by investment from private investors, the Low Carbon Innovation Fund, the Angel Co Fund, alongside grant funding from the Department of Energy and Climate Change, Innovate UK, the Low Carbon KEEP Programme, the Solent Offshore Renewable Energy Consortium, Future Solent’s Green Growth Fund.
ABOUT PLAT-O
PLAT-O provides a step-change reduction in the cost of delivering tidal energy; one of the Earth’s most abundant and reliable renewable energy sources. PLAT-O is a buoyant platform that is taut moored to the seabed using a bespoke anchoring solution that has also been developed by SME. It sits under the surface of the water and offers a number of other benefits including enhanced yield and survivability due to its position in the water column, which also ensures that surface vessels can pass safely overhead. Besides a surface marker buoy, the system is not visible on the surface.
PLAT-O is compatible with most leading tidal turbine technologies, and it can be adapted to suit a wide range of configurations. SME has the flexibility to scale up the platform and work with manufacturers of tidal generators to utilise new technologies as they emerge. PLAT-O provides a systems integration platform which hosts power conditioning and control systems and enables the export of power from multiple generators through a single export cable.
PLAT-O was designed from the outset with simplicity and flexibility in mind. All installation and maintenance operations for PLAT-O can be carried out with small, readily available vessels, avoiding the need to hire large heavy-lift ships. This also reduces the risks associated with weather downtime for project developers.
www.sustainablemarine.com
ABOUT EMEC
Established in 2003, EMEC is the world’s leading facility for testing wave and tidal energy converters in real sea conditions. The centre offers independent, accredited grid-connected test berths for full-scale prototypes, as well as test sites in less challenging conditions for use by smaller scale technologies, supply chain companies, and equipment manufacturers.
To date, more marine energy converters have been deployed in Orkney, Scotland, than at any other single site in the world.
With over 10 years of unprecedented experience, EMEC also offers technology verification, a range of research and consultancy services, and has facilitated the development of international standards for marine energy.
www.emec.org.uk