Simec Atlantis’ tidal turbine hits waters offshore Japan

Business Developments & Projects

January 26, 2021, by Amir Garanovic

The AR500 tidal energy generation system, designed and built by Simec Atlantis Energy, has been installed in the Naru Strait, off Japan’s Goto Island chain.

AR500 during installation in the Naru Strait (Courtesy of Kyuden Mirai Energy)

Photo of AR500 during installation in the Naru Strait, located between the islands of Naru and Hisaka in the Goto Island chain (Courtesy of Kyuden Mirai Energy) — AR500 during installation in the Naru Strait, between the islands of Naru and Hisaka in the Goto Island chain (Courtesy of Kyuden Mirai Energy)

The AR500 tidal turbine and associated equipment have been installed on the seabed on January 23, 2021, according to Kyuden Mirai Energy, a Japanese company which contracted Simec Atlantis for the demonstration project.

The turbine has already started power generation, Kyuden Mirai Energy informed, adding that the project developers will now perform various tests ahead of the official start of the demonstration phase, scheduled for early February 2021.

Photo of the deployment of AR500 (Courtesy of Kyuden Mirai Energy) — The deployment of AR500 (Courtesy of Kyuden Mirai Energy)

The turbine will initially be operating at a capped maximum generation output of 500kW, as performance and environmental data collection, and device validation are undertaken for the client and Japanese regulatory bodies, Simec Atlantis informed earlier.

The demonstrator project will seek to capitalize on Japan’s wealth of tidal resources, said to be some of the best in the world.

The demonstration project is in line with the Ministry of the Environment of Japan’s strategy to promote the practical application of low-carbon technologies that exploit the country’s available renewable energy resources.