International Power plans 10MW tidal farm on Pentland Firth
Friday 07 November 2008
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| International Power's other projects include the 1GW Rugeley coal-fired power plant in Staffordshire |
Power generator International Power Marine Development (IPMD) has today unveiled plans for a 10MW tidal stream farm in the Pentland Firth.
The news came as the firm, whose parent company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and generates 33GW of electricity worldwide, announced that it has secured a connection for the project from Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE).
Grid upgrade
New Energy Focus understands that the deal, which has been signed and paid for this week, will include an upgrade to an existing connection, as well as a possible extension.
Furthermore, International Power Marine Development has opened a new office in Thurso for its marine developer, James Minto, who has relocated there from Edinburgh to head up stakeholder engagement and project management.
He said: "This tidal farm will complement prototype testing and bring tidal stream technology to commercial reality. Together with stakeholders, we have an opportunity to create industry best practice for environmental impact assessments and marine operations. I look forward to working with all concerned to contribute to the foundations of this emerging industry."
A spokeswoman for IPMD, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Power, told New Energy Focus today that consultancy firm Xodus Group has been appointed to carry out an environmental impact assessment on the site planned for the proposals.
And, tidal stream devices from Tidal Generation Ltd (TGL) are lined up for the project, although IPMD was unable to disclose how many devices it is planning to deploy.
Rolls-Royce-backed TGL is currently developing a 500kW prototype of its full-submerged tidal stream device which it is expecting to grid-test the European Marine Energy Centre tidal site in 2009.
The device, which operates in waters of 35-100 metres, will have a capacity of 1MW when fully developed.
Subject to the environmental impact assessment, a Crown Estate lease, and planning consent from the Scottish Government, International Power's Pentland Firth tidal farm is intended to be operational by 2011.
Risk
This tidal farm will complement prototype testing and bring tidal stream technology to commercial reality.
However, a spokeswoman for International Power confirmed that there is a chance that the firm could lose some of its investment in Scottish and Southern Energy's grid connection should the plans fall through.
But the company would be eligible for reimbursement of funds that had not yet been spent.
The Crown Estate has not yet issued any leases for commercial development of wave or tidal energy in the Pentland Firth, but is expected to do so in the summer of 2009.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise's Louise Smith, manager of the Pentland Firth Tidal Energy Project, welcomed the news, saying: "It is very encouraging to see companies of this calibre developing a detailed strategy for generating power from the Pentland Firth. The granting of leases by The Crown Estate has unlocked a logical process for developers to pursue and we look forward to a structured expansion of tidal energy production from the Firth over the coming years."
International Power's other UK power projects include the 500MW gas-powered Deeside plant, and the 1GW Rugeley coal-fired plant.
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