| Wave & tidal power
are looking forward to deploying the first 4.9MW phase of our commercial project at Morlais, with buildout of an additional 25MW to follow.” Inyanga Marine Energy Group will provide a full Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Installation solution for VML’s 4.9MW project, along with a long-term Operations and Maintenance contract. Richard Parkinson, CEO of Inyanga Marine Energy
Group, said, “This new partnership allows us to explore economies of scale and creates a clear commercial path for our project. Collaboration unlocks exciting new opportunities for innovation and cost reduction, potentially accelerating development of the tidal energy industry.”
Andy Billcliff, Chief Executive of Menter Môn
Morlais Limited, which manages the Morlais tidal energy site, added, “We are thrilled to see this innovative partnership between two of the tidal energy companies awarded projects in the latest ‘Contracts for Difference’ round. By combining forces and unleashing economies of scale as well as the power of collaborative thinking, we expect to see an impact on the overall success of the Morlais project, helping to establish the commercial viability of tidal energy as a clean renewable energy.”
Additionally, Ocean Kinetics and Green Marine (UK) formed a Joint Venture Partnership to decommission OpenHydro’s tidal turbine energy platform in the Orkney Islands. The decommissioning work at EMEC’s Fall of Warness test site involves removing the steel superstructure installed in 2006. EMEC awarded the contract in April. The OpenHydro test rig included two steel piles drilled and grouted into the seabed, with a steel superstructure attached to the piles. The tidal turbine was previously fixed to the piles using two steel collars and operated with two 15-tonne hydraulic winches. The decommissioning involves removing the superstructure, cutting the piles with diamond wire, and disconnecting cables. Ocean Kinetics is providing divers, riggers, welders, and ROV services, while Green Marine is handling offshore management, using the Green Isle vessel and providing moorings and cable operations expertise. Both companies are sharing responsibilities for operational engineering, cutting, and heavy lifting. The OpenHydro superstructure has been dismantled
into smaller components for removal. Green Marine Operations Manager Terry Norquay stated that the topside infrastructure has been removed and work is progressing to pile removal and cable termination. “The OpenHydro project has demanded a strong understanding of operations within harsh marine environments combined with solid preparation and execution,” Norquay said. “While Green Marine and Ocean Kinetics offer a broad range of marine services, this particular job demonstrates the turnkey solution we offer specifically for subsea superstructure removal projects. By combining our respective expertise, we are able to deliver all manner of EPCI (Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Installation) contracts. There are few operators in the UK who can match us for experience, reliability and cost efficiency.” The work is being conducted during Neap tides, with water speeds approaching 6 knots. Engineering teams aim to capitalize on slack tide windows, when water speeds drop to 0.5 meters per second.
Ocean Kinetics Marine Projects Manager Roger Goudie said, “This project cements Ocean Kinetic’s status as a leader of offshore decommissioning works. Our experienced rope-access-trained decommissioning team have worked alongside the Green Marine crew to safely deconstruct the topside structures and prepare the piles for removal. We have also had our dive team working onsite which proves the skills offered by Ocean Kinetics given the tidal nature of the site.” To complete the project, the Green Isle will be
spread moored in a four-point configuration to remain stationary and allow safe diver operations. The seabed must be returned to its original condition, requiring cutting each pile foundation flush to the seabed with diamond wire cutting machines. OpenHydro was the first developer to use the Fall of
Warness tidal test site in 2006. The device was the first tidal turbine to be grid-connected in Scotland and the first to generate electricity to the national grid in the UK. Meanwhile, ocean energy developer Minesto
and Faroese utility company Sev have renewed and updated their power purchase agreement (PPA), highlighting the importance of tidal energy in the Faroe Islands’ move towards a 100% renewable energy system. Originally signed in 2020, the PPA has been extended for another two years following approval from the Faroese Energy Agency (Orka). The agreement includes an adjusted electricity price to better reflect the overall value of tidal energy. The renewed PPA pertains to the capacity of three tidal power plants located in Vestmanna. This extension continues the world’s first off-taker relationship for energy produced by Minesto’s tidal energy technology. Dr. Martin Edlund, CEO of Minesto, commented, “The updated PPA is on a price-level that underlines the value of tidal energy in the energy mix in the Faroe Islands.” Terji Nielsen, Head of R&D at Sev, added, “We are pleased to sign a renewed power purchase agreement with Minesto at this point. We are very hopeful that tidal energy will play a vital role in the future energy mix in the Faroe Islands and in our efforts to reach 100% sustainable electricity generation by 2030.” In May, Minesto announced it had reached a significant milestone with its tidal kite Dragon 12, marking three months of uninterrupted testing since its installation in February 2024. The Dragon 12 has been reliably connected to the grid and is performing as anticipated at its site in Vestmanna, Faroe Islands. This period also sees the operation of an array of tidal kites, including the 1.2MW Dragon 12 and a 100kW Dragon 4, providing crucial production data for future array expansions.
Tidal barrage A flythrough video has unveiled the ambitious vision
for the world’s largest tidal scheme on the River Mersey in the UK. The reveal comes in the wake of a significant decision by Mayor Steve Rotheram and the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to advance the Mersey Tidal Power project into the formal planning phase. The proposed tidal barrage between the Wirral and Liverpool has been earmarked as the preferred option for the Mersey Tidal Power project. In a meeting held on Friday, March 15, the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority voted to initiate the formal planning process by drafting a
Above: Ocean Kinetics and Green Marine (UK) formed a JV Partnership to decommission the OpenHydro tidal turbine in Scotland Top to bottom: Early crane begining to lift; pile on deck; structure removed, crane holding walkway against bow
www.waterpowermagazine.com | August 2024 | 37
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