Magallanes Tidal Unit Reinstalled at EMEC

Spanish tidal energy developer Magallanes Renovables has reinstalled its 2MW Atir device at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) at the Fall of Warness in Orkney, Scotland.

Magallanes worked in collaboration with Orkney-based marine service provider Leask Marine, along with the Orkney Harbour Authority tug Thor, to install the platform in an operation lasting eight hours on 19 April.

EMEC said that in the coming weeks Atir will be connected to the national grid.

Atir was initially launched in 2017 and underwent tow testing in Vigo, Spain, prior to being installed and connected to the national grid at EMEC in Orkney in 2019.

In order to further optimise performance, Magallanes transported the platform to the dry dock of Dales Marine in Edinburgh in 2020 for maintenance, supported by GAP, Leask Marine, Briggs Marine and Forth Port.

Magallanes Renovables chief executive and founder Alejandro Marques de Magallanes said: “We are very pleased to have demonstrated that it is possible to build, launch, install, operate and maintain a tidal platform, in order to generate energy from tidal currents.

“We are delighted to again have successfully reinstalled the Atir at EMEC.

“This is a great achievement for our dedicated team and we are now ready to take the next step to start generating electricity into the national grid in the near future.”

EMEC operations and technology director Jonathan Lindsay said: “We are delighted to welcome Magallanes back to EMEC following testing in 2019.

“Their innovation, hard work and determination to drive forward the development of their tidal technology is admirable and we wish them well in their next phase of testing.

“Here in Orkney we are continuing to drive forward and support the development of marine renewable technology, with more marine energy devices having been tested at the EMEC than at any other location in the world.

“With innovative companies like Magallanes choosing to demonstrate technologies in Scotland, it has led to the development of the world’s most experienced supply chain for marine energy.

“This successful operation has highlighted the skills of Leask Marine and our Local Harbour Authority tugs.”

Leask Marine managing director Douglas Leask said: “Leask Marine were delighted to be selected once again to manage the successful installation of Magallanes Renovables’ Atir tidal platform after her recent upgrade programme.

“This marks another major milestone in the tidal history story and after months of careful planning and close working between all the project partners Leask Marine were able to successfully execute the install operations, ready to be connected once again to the national grid.

“Orkney remains the centre of the green energy revolution and we are delighted to continue to demonstrate and develop world leading innovation for this sector.”

The testing of the Atir is funded by the Interreg OceanDEMO and MaRINET2, part of the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.