MORE assists Oceanflow’s tidal decommissioning

University of Algarve’s Marine Offshore Renewable Energy (MORE) team has supported Oceanflow Energy in the decommissioning operation conducted at Sanda Sound tidal energy site.

MORE helped UK-based tidal energy developer Oceanflow Energy in the decommissioning of 60-tonne mooring lines and power export cable used in the deployment of Evopod E35 tidal energy device.

Orkney-based provider of marine renewable energy services Leask Marine was hired to conduct the operation that took place on September 30, 2017, according to MORE.

Oceanflow Energy’s 35kW Evopod unit, equipped with a 4.5 meter diameter turbine, operated for one year at the site off South Kintyre before being removed in 2015.

The company received the approval from UK’s Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for the decommissioning operation in March 2017.

At that time, Oceanflow Energy said it was ending tidal testing program at Sanda Sound citing difficulties in securing research funding as the reason for the decision.

To remind, Oceanflow Energy leased the scaled Evopod E1 unit to the University of Algarve to conduct tidal energy research off the coast off Portugal as part of the SCORE project.