WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL TIDAL POWER TURBINE LAUNCHED BY H&W

WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL TIDAL POWER TURBINE LAUNCHED BY HARLAND & WOLFF

DP Energy has welcomed the launch of the world’s most powerful floating tidal turbine in Belfast. Commissioned by Scotrenewables Tidal Power, the SR2000 is the result of joint investment of £25m by the main investors: DP Energy, ABB, Scottish Government’s Renewable Energy Investment Fund, Fred. Olsen Group and Total New Energies.

Simon de Pietro, CEO of DP Energy says the tidal energy sector is rapidly approaching maturity. “The sector is now beyond its emerging phase and the SR2000 device is a bold step forward proving the viability of tidal as a sustainable, reliable and predictable energy source.”

Steel fabrication of the machine was carried out by fabricators in Scotland, Northern Ireland and England with assembly and commissioning of the SR2000 taking place at Harland & Wolff shipyard over the past 12 months, drawing on H&W’s 150 years of marine manufacturing experience to deliver this next generation technology.

The company’s novel floating technology offers a low cost solution to tidal energy generation through simplified and safe manufacture, installation, access and maintenance of units along with the ability to use low cost, small workboats for all offshore operations.

 Following a short period of sea-trials in the Belfast harbour region, the turbine will be towed to Orkney for a testing programme at the European Marine Energy Centre, where the company will demonstrate the potential for its technology to deliver a step-change cost reduction to the tidal energy sector.

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 Media contacts:

Joris Minne, JPR, [email protected] tel: 0044 7876 218978