INTRODUCTION
A time of change!
No matter what your political views are there can be no argument that we are going through a time of radical change.
We are very much a company that looks to the future with the emphasis on the positive no matter what is thrown at us. It is for this reason that we have made some changes of our own.
TWO MAGAZINES TOGETHER You will find that we have combined both our publications giving our readers the opportunity to see how each of the two sectors work together - it has been carried out in a very different way to the norm in that our Wind Energy readers will receive their printed copy with the front cover related to the wind industry and our Wave & Tidal Energy readers with the front cover related to the wave and tidal industry.
So if you wish to read the other sector’s magazine you just turn it over and read from there.
CHOICE We have found that our readers in both sectors have a common strong interest in renewable energy and therefore a passion for the future energy needs of the world. In sending out this new magazine format to both the sectors’ databases we feel that it will help both industry areas communicate more and share their experiences.
FEEDBACK Please feel free to comment on our changes – they will not be ignored!
ED’S NOTE Please read the accompanying article which describes both sectors successfully working together already.
Duncan McGilvray Editor | Wind Energy Network
Combine wind and tidal power
Atlantis, a global leader in the tidal power sector announced recently that an agreement has been reached between the company’s majority owned MeyGen project and a nearby windfarm development to facilitate access to the distribution grid for other renewable energy projects.
FIRST PHASE
The first phase of the MeyGen project was recently connected to the 33kV Ness of Quoys distribution network and is on track to deliver first power in the second half of 2016. The part of the distribution network to which MeyGen is now connected is constrained, such that there is no additional capacity for other generators until wider transmission upgrade works are completed over the next few years.
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY However, as a result of the predictable and cyclical nature of tidal generation, there is a unique opportunity for other energy projects to gain access to the grid at those times when the MeyGen project is not generating at maximum output, thus facilitating increased generation in the near term from the area’s rich renewable resources.
LOCHEND WIND ENERGY LIMITED (“Lochend”) is developing a 4 turbine windfarm close to MeyGen’s onshore site in Caithness, and Lochend has reached agreement with MeyGen to allow these wind turbines to deliver electricity to the grid whenever the MeyGen tidal project is not making full use of the available export capacity.
IMPROVED UTILISATION This will result in improved utilisation of the existing grid network without affecting MeyGen’s generation, and is believed to be the first such combination of a wind and tidal project of its kind in the UK. The arrangement is an important step in demonstrating the feasibility of a diverse blend of sustainable sources of generation
as a long term solution to our need for clean, predictable and secure electricity, and shows the potential for optimising the use of existing grid infrastructure assets through intelligent matching of different generation profiles.
WORLD FIRST Tim Cornelius, CEO of Atlantis, commented: “We believe this to be a world first, and to show that the predictability of generation from the tides can also benefit other forms of renewable energy by allowing those generators to accurately forecast and access spare grid capacity. Tidal power makes for more efficient grid use and management, and we are delighted to have been able to assist a local windfarm in getting connected.
“Sharing transmission assets in this way and capitalising on the predictability of tidal power will ensure that, in the long term, our energy needs are better served whilst also maximising access to a constrained network in the immediate future.”
ADDITIONAL VALUE
“This announcement demonstrates the additional value of our secured grid capacity around the UK and the importance of tidal power as a predictable cornerstone of a diverse and sustainable electricity mix. Whilst we cannot claim tidal power is able to lend the same predictability to the current political climate, we are pleased to say that our project remains unaffected by recent events.” Tim concluded.
Atlantis
www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
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