Video: Exclusive Atlantis AR1500 assembly footage

The Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, together with Atlantis Resources, has released the time-lapse footage taken over three months as the 1.5 MW AR1500 turbine was assembled prior to commissioning at ORE Catapult’s National Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth.

The AR1500 is owned by Atlantis Resources, with design and manufacturing supported by engineering giant Lockheed Martin.

The turbine will now undergo a six week pre-commissioning programme at the Catapult’s 3 MW drive-train facility, commencing in June 2016, which will validate the performance of the turbine’s drive train before it is installed in the Pentland Firth MeyGen array later this year, ORE Catapult informed.

Drew Blaxland, Director, Turbines & Engineering Services at Atlantis Resources said: “The footage does a fantastic job of showcasing the AR1500 and how efficiently it can be assembled on-site. We’re extremely proud of this turbine which is a true testament to engineering excellence. When launched at MeyGen, the turbine will operate in one of the harshest environments in the world and generate predictable power from the extreme Scottish tides.”

The Catapult’s 3 MW power train test rig will be used to inject torque into the drive train to support the commissioning and validation of the AR1500 prior to deployment. According to ORE Catapult, these final checks are critical to ensuring that any technical issues are resolved prior to deployment, minimising the risk of early complications and unplanned maintenance.

Tony Quinn, Operations Director at ORE Catapult, said: “It is encouraging to watch the development of this technology and to assist Atlantis Resources in bringing this technology closer to deployment. By using our testing facilities, they have been able to gather invaluable real-world data on performance and commission the AR1500, essential to guiding the development of a turbine fit for use in the Pentland Firth.”

ORE Catapult is working with Atlantis Resources on the €1.3 million Eurostars project to drive forward the development and deployment of the AR1500 tidal turbine.

Phase 1A of the recently grid-connected MeyGen project will see the installation of four 1.5 MW tidal turbines – three made by Andritz Hydro, and one designed by Lockheed Martin.

Once fully built, the 400 MW MeyGen project is expected to generate enough predictable and emissions free electricity to power 175,000 Scottish homes.