Transmission & Distribution Technology
New connections bring North Sea renewable energy onshore
Major grid connection projects have got underway in the North Sea. They will bring electricity from renewable tidal and wind energy ashore and feed it into Europe’s distribution grids. Sean Ottewell reports.
Los proyectos de conexiones de redes más importantes están en marcha en North Sea. Proveen electricidad de la energía eólica y de las mareas hacia tierra firme para ser suministrada a la red de distribución de Europa, afirma Sean Ottewell.
In der Nordsee sind große Netzanschlussprojekte im Gang. Sie befördern Elektrizität aus erneuerbaren Gezeiten- und Windenergieanlagen an Land und in die Verteilernetze Europas. Sean Ottewell berichtet.
P
ower and automation specialist ABB has been awarded a contract by Atlantis Resources to provide the onshore grid connection for
phase one of the MeyGen tidal stream project in Scotland’s Pentland Firth. Tis project will harvest the tidal
resources of one of the most energetic maritime sites in Europe – the strait connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea between the Orkney Islands and the Scottish mainland.
Te first 6MW demonstration phase of
the UK’s first large-scale tidal array scheme will see four submerged turbines installed in the Inner Pentland Firth just north of Caithness, with first power expected to be delivered by 2016 (Fig. 1). ABB is responsible for the onshore
power conversion and grid connection systems to feed the electricity safely and reliably into the local distribution grid. ABB’s project scope includes design, engineering, supply and commissioning of the power conversion, switchgear and transformer solution as well as associated
civil engineering and cabling works. Major product supplies include transformers, medium voltage switchgear and power converters. Studies including those by engineers
from the University of Edinburgh and University of Oxford indicate that the Pentland Firth’s tidal stream has vast energy potential, with ocean currents estimated at five metres per second, among the fastest in the British Isles. “Forming partnerships with the leading
players in the energy sector is key to delivering commercial-scale tidal power projects. We look forward to working with the team at ABB to ensure the success of the MeyGen project,” said Tim Cornelius, CEO of Atlantis Resources. Te initial phase of the MeyGen
development has the potential to generate up to 86MW of electricity, enough power for around 42,000 homes, potentially catering to the needs of almost 40% of households in the Scottish Highlands. Within 10 years the company hopes to see this figure rise to 398 MW.
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www.engineerlive.com Fig. 1. Four submerged turbines will eventually be
installed just north of Caithness, Scotland.
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