Anchor project is ready for world’s largest floating tidal turbine

Orkney-based Scotrenewables Tidal Power has completed deployment of its modular anchoring system at the European Marine Energy Centre, in preparation for the installation of its SR2000 2MW floating tidal turbine.

The anchor deployment formed part of a tidal anchors project for floating technologies, which was carried out in partnership with McLaughlin & Harvey, SeaRoc and Scotmarine.

According to the company, the aim of the project was to develop an innovative, low-cost anchoring system for floating tidal energy converters, which could be installed and decommissioned using low-cost vessels and to demonstrate the anchors on their SR2000 installation – the largest floating tidal turbine in the world.

The project was supported by the Scottish Government’s Marine Renewables Commercialisation Fund, which was established to support the development of enabling technology for marine energy arrays, and by Invest NI.

Andrew Scott, of Scotrenewables said: “The floating tidal anchors project has demonstrated how inexpensive gravity anchor materials can be utilised in conjunction with a highly innovative deployment approach towards a low-cost anchoring solution for floating tidal installations.

“The entire anchoring system was fabricated within Orkney and installed using a locally based workboat vessel, further illustrating how this approach can make full use of the local supply chain for tidal energy installations.”