Tidal turbine developer Atlantis Resources Corporation has unveiled the AK1000, billed as the largest and most powerful tidal power turbine ever built. The unit is due for installation at a dedicated berth at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), located in Orkney, Scotland, later this summer.
Despatching 1MW of predictable power at a water velocity of 2.65m/sec, the AK1000 is capable of generating enough electricity for over 1000 homes. It is designed for harsh weather and rough, open ocean environments such as those found off the Scottish coast. The turbine incorporates technology from suppliers across the globe, has an 18m rotor diameter, weighs 1300 tonnes and stands at a height of 22.5m. The turbine is expected to be environmentally benign due to a low rotation speed whilst in operation and will deliver predictable, sustainable power to the local Orkney grid.
The AK1000 nacelle was fabricated by Soil Marine Dynamics in Newcastle in England and the gravity base structure and system assembly was completed by Isleburn Engineering, a member of the Aberdeen based Global Energy Group. Steel for the turbine came from Corus’ Scunthorpe facility.