The UK’s first floating tidal stream turbine is set to be deployed off the coast of Scotland in 2020, after £7m of funding to build the device was secured earlier this month. Developed by Orkney-based renewable energy innovation firm Orbital Marine Power, the 2MW device will comprise a 73-metre-long floating superstructure with a 1MW turbine attached to each side. The development team behind the innovation claim this design makes it easy to install, maintain and tow. Production of the technology, called the O2 Turbine, will begin in Orkney this year, Orbital Marine Power confirmed this week, after £7m of investment was raised by peer-to-peer ethical investment company Abundance. The project is being partially funded by the Scottish Government, which has pledged £2m, with the remainder of the investment having been crowdfunded among the investor community and the general public. In total, around 2,300 individuals have invested in the scheme.
Edie 11th Jan 2019 read more »