Top news, September 24 – 30, 2018

MarineEnergy.biz has compiled the top news from marine energy industry from September 24 – 30, 2018.


Private investment boosts Scotrenewables tidal momentum

Scotrenewables Tidal Power has secured a multi-million pound investment, led by private investor group, in preparation for the construction of the optimized 2MW floating tidal turbine – the SR2-2000.

Led by a private investor group including the McGrath family, sector leader Matthias Haag, as well as ongoing public sector support through the Scottish government’s Energy Investment Fund, the funding will support Scotrenewables tidal energy technology build-out and commercialization.

In addition to fresh funding – whose exact amount was not disclosed – Scotrenewables also informed of new director appointments ahead of starting a new turbine build which will see an optimized 2MW floating turbine installed at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.


Irish tidal turbine ready to tap Garonne River’s flows

Irish company DesignPro Renewables has launched the 25kW hydrokinetic turbine for its first round of trials at the SEENEOH test site in Bordeaux in France.

The deployment, completed on September 25, 2018 – saw the device successfully secured to the mooring making it ready for operation, DesignPro informed.

At SEENEOH, the turbine will undergo extensive operational and environmental testing and power curves will be verified by the internationally recognized Bureau Veritas standard.


Upgraded Lifesaver fit to size up Hawaii’s swells

Fred. Olsen wave energy converter – BOLT Lifesaver – has been fully upgraded ahead of six-month deployment off the coast of Hawaii.

The device underwent modifications to accommodate an oceanographic sensor package, developed by the Pacific Marine Energy Center, to demonstrate the wave energy converter’s ability to directly power external systems.

The project team will also make key modifications to the mooring systems, in order to examine simplified deployment processes and enhanced power performance of BOLT Lifesaver, before the device launches at the 30-meter deep test berth of the US Navy’s Wave Energy Test Site (WETS), located off Marine Corps Base Hawaii.


Ocean power cable protection put to test in France

The casting subsidiary of Farinia Group – FMGC – has installed the cast iron shells (IBOCS) used to ballast subsea power cables employed in marine renewable energy projects for trials at the SEM-REV site in western France.

Installed at a depth of 30 meters back in August 2018, the FMGC shells will be challenged to demonstrate the stability of the cables ballasted with these cast iron shells, including under heavy swell conditions, according to Centrale Nantes.

The FMGC shells, used to protect, stabilize and restrict the bend of subsea electrical cables, will remain on site for several months and will be subjected to extreme winter conditions.


Work continues on Swansea Bay lagoon with fresh debt deal

Tidal Lagoon Power – the developer of the Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon project – has made an agreement with shareholders and creditors to repay its debts over a fixed period of time as the company continues shaping new delivery plan for the Welsh clean energy scheme.

After getting the approval from shareholders and creditors, Tidal Lagoon Power informed it successfully concluded the Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) process, which enables it to repay its debts over an agreed period of time.

“We can continue work to deliver Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon and the wider tidal lagoon program. It is intended that through this work we will be able to settle all creditor claims,” the company said.