Scotland’s Orbital Marine Power Ltd is the first company to sign up for deploying tidal turbines at the Perpetuus Tidal Energy Centre (PTEC) and plans to initially install up to 15 MW there by the end of 2025.
PTEC is a 30-MW tidal energy demo project, proposed by a consortium of private renewables developer Perpetuus Energy Ltd and The Isle of Wight Council and approved in 2016. The site located 2.5 km south of St Catherine’s Point, Isle of Wight, has the potential to be scaled up to reach 300 MW of capacity.
Orkney-based engineering firm Orbital is the developer of the 2-MW O2 floating tidal energy turbine. A commercial demonstration unit is now being prepared for installation at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC). Its grid connection is expected to occur in the coming weeks, after which the device will be in commercial operation for 15 years.
Proposals in relation to the project at PTEC, supported by EMEC, will be presented to the community during a public consultation that should launch shortly. PTEC noted that while it has offshore consents to place tidal turbines in the sea off the south coast of the Isle of Wight, it is reapplying for planning permission for its onshore substation.
“This project can be the touchpaper that ignites an exciting new UK wide supply chain that secures local jobs as tidal energy plays its part in the energy transition,” said Oliver Wragg, commercial director of Orbital.