SIMEC Atlantis Energy Unveils World’s Largest Single Rotor Tidal Turbine

UK headquartered SIMEC Atlantis Energy (SAE), on Thursday (13) unveiled the design for its new 2.0-megawatt tidal power turbine system which includes the largest and most powerful single axis turbine available on the commercial market.

This next generation turbine will be capable of accommodating rotor diameters of between 20–24 meters, site dependent, with a cut in speed of less than one meter per second and a maximum of output of 2.0 MW at 3.05 m/s for a machine with a 20 meter rotor diameter, the company said in a statement.

The AR2000 has been in development for over two years and builds on the successes and lessons learned from the AR1500 deployment and operation on the world leading MeyGen project in Scotland. SAE has invested more than £5 million in the development of this machine which is expected to be deployed on future phases of the MeyGen Project and will be available for sale to commercial developers in Q4 2019.

The turbine is offered as part of a complete rotor to grid tidal generation system, with an array architecture that allows multiple turbines to be connected in parallel, reducing the cost and impact of the subsea infrastructure, SAE added.

“The AR2000 marks the culmination of 15 years of investment. It is capable of deployment in each of our key target markets in the UK, France, Channel Islands, Asia, Australia, and Canada,” said Drew Blaxland, Director of Turbine and Engineering Services.

The AR2000 will feature an innovative new electro-mechanical pitch system, 360 degrees of yaw, upgraded onboard health monitoring and diagnostics systems and optimised critical system redundancy. The AR2000 will have a 25-year design life with quarter-life interventions for routine maintenance. The system utilises a quick connect wet-mate system, designed for rapid and safe deployment on either a gravity base or mono pylon of up to eight turbines per day.