SeaGen, Marine Current Turbines’ world-first 1.2MW commercial scale tidal energy system, is moving into its final stage of commissioning. Replacement rotor blades have recently been fitted to one of SeaGen’s two 600kW turbines and it is now being run and generating power in “test mode”. The other turbine has been generating power into the local grid, at varying levels, since the summer as part of its comprehensive commissioning test programme. 

The rotor blade replacement was accomplished rapidly and illustrates how SeaGen can be maintained from no more than a small service vessel thanks to the patented design which allows the rotors to be raised out of the water.

Martin Wright, Managing Director of Marine Current Turbines said: “We are on track for SeaGen to generate at full power before Christmas and we should complete our final testing in January. SeaGen will then be ready to generate power into the grid on a fully automated basis for about 18 hours a day.”

ESB Independent, a subsidiary company of Ireland’s ESB, is buying SeaGen’s power for its customers in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.