Largest marine energy lease is signed

Atlantis, owner of the world’s largest planned tidal stream energy project, MeyGen, has announced that it has signed a 398MW, 25-year seabed lease with the Crown Estate.

It is the largest marine energy lease to be awarded by the Crown Estate and is the first in The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters region.

Atlantis recently announced that it has agreed terms with a funding syndicate for a funding package for Phase 1A of the MeyGen project which will exceed £50 million.

Construction is expected to commence later this year, with the first power to the grid and revenues being earned in 2016.

Dan Pearson, chief executive of MeyGen, said: “Signing the lease with the Crown Estate is a significant achievement being the first of its kind and demonstrates how a commercial scale energy project can be designed, consented, engineered and funded within four years.

“This is the culmination of a talented and committed team working alongside stakeholders and governments who are determined to launch a new energy sector within Scotland and the UK. We are thankful to all who have helped us along the journey and look forward to delivering the first phase.”

Ronnie Quinn, head of ocean energy, the Crown Estate said: “Our commitment to invest in and agree a lease for the Meygen project continues our strategy to explore tidal stream energy on a commercial scale and its potential to help unlock the nation’s tidal energy resources over the long-term.”