Marine Current Turbines

As well as being a renewable energy success, SeaGen, the world’s first commercial tidal current energy turbine is also an environmental success.  The tidal turbine,  designed and deployed by Marine Current Turbines Ltd (MCT) and located in Northern Ireland’s Strangford Lough has had no major impact on the Lough’s marine life.  This is the main conclusion of a report prepared by the environmental consultancy Royal Haskoning, in collaboration with an independent Science Group, comprising representatives of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Queen’s University Belfast, the Sea Mammal Research Unit and others.  The Science Group was chaired by David Erwin, a former Chief Executive of the Ulster Wildlife Trust.

The Royal Haskoning report, prepared on behalf of MCT, was published today at an event to be held at the Belfast Harbour Commissioners. The event, a series of presentations on the different aspects of the SeaGen Environmental Monitoring Programme, was attended by representatives of Northern Ireland’s Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, the Department of Environment, members of the scientific and environmental teams as well as members of the local community that live and work in the vicinity of Strangford Lough.

The main outcomes of the Environmental Monitoring Programme (EMP) that commenced in 2005, before SeaGen’s deployment and its start of operation in 2008, were:

1. No major impacts have been detected from any of the monitoring programmes;

2. There have been no changes in abundance of either seals or porpoises detected which can be attributed to SeaGen; seals and porpoises are continuing to swim past SeaGen, demonstrating a lack of any concern or hindrance.

The only changes observed after three years of operation of SeaGen have been relatively small scale changes in the behaviour and distribution of seals and harbour porpoises, which suggests a minor degree of local avoidance of SeaGen.

The benthic ecology (seabed life) was also monitored as part of the EMP, using divers.  The EMP concluded that the seabed life surrounding SeaGen’s foundations has recovered since its installation in 2008. In addition, the EMP has showed no evidence of significant change to the tidal speeds and flow directions within Strangford Narrows and that it is unlikely that marine traffic between Strangford town and Portaferry has been affected.   With regard to bird life, although not a key feature of the EMP, the studies have shown that the overall bird numbers in the Narrows have remained stable.

Frank Fortune, Technical Director at Royal Haskoning said: “The findings of the EMP give us confidence that SeaGen will be able to continue to operate with no likely significant impacts on the marine environment of Strangford Lough.  This validates the innovative, adaptive management approach to monitoring and mitigation taken by MCT and supported by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.”

David Erwin, the Chairman of the SeaGen Scientific Group and Stakeholder Liaison Group: “This is the most comprehensive study of the environmental impact of marine energy devices undertaken anywhere in the world.  Given my long association with the Lough, I was always confident that SeaGen could operate without any significant impact and I’m delighted that the results of five years painstaking work by some of the world’s most-respected experts in their fields have shown this to be the case.”

Northern Ireland’s Environment Minister, Alex Attwood, has said of the Environmental Monitoring Report: “I must commend David Erwin, colleagues at the Department of Environment and every single member of the environmental monitoring team.  SeaGen has been a pioneering project with interest around the world not only in its energy performance but also its environmental impact.  Marine Current Turbines has proven that the power of the seas can be harnessed in harmony with marine life. The results of their work will give everyone greater confidence in realising the economic and environmental benefits that tidal and wave energy can offer to Northern Ireland, elsewhere in the UK and Ireland as well as other parts of the world.”

Northern Ireland’s Energy Minister, Arlene Foster, praised all involved in this work. The Minister said: “SeaGen has drawn the world’s attention to Northern Ireland and the potential of our offshore renewable energy resources which can contribute to the Executive’s 40% renewable energy target by 2020, and beyond.  Following The Crown Estate announcement of our Offshore Renewable Leasing Round in December, companies are now expressing very positive interest in this opportunity.  The key lessons learned from this extensive environmental monitoring programme at SeaGen can be used as tidal developments are taken forward around Rathlin and Torr Head as part of this Leasing Round.”

Copies of the EMP report are available upon request from Marine Current Turbines.

Notes to Editors:

1. MCT’s 1.2MW SeaGen was deployed in Northern Ireland’s Strangford Lough in 2008 under licence from the Northern Ireland Department of Environment. It has the capacity to generate power for the equivalent of about 1500 homes. For most of the past 3½ years, SeaGen’s operation had been limited by its licence conditions to daylight hours but these have been lifted. SeaGen works in principle much like an “underwater windmill” with the rotors driven by the power of the tidal currents rather than the wind.   SeaGen is accredited by OFGEM as a UK power station and so is a recipient of Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs).

2. Marine Current Turbines (www.marineturbines.com) is based in Bristol, England.  Founded in 1999, MCT has led the market in developing and patenting tidal current stream energy devices. MCT is backed by investors including principal shareholder Siemens, utility companies and specialist funds.  The company is taking forward a number of tidal projects in UK and overseas waters.   MCT is developing a 10MW tidal farm off Anglesey, north Wales (the Skerries tidal project), an 8MW tidal farm in Kyle Rhea (Scotland’s Isle of Skye) and is working with Minas Basin Pulp & Power to deploy a single SeaGen tidal system in Canada’s Bay of Fundy.   In addition, MCT has an approval for a lease from The Crown Estate to deploy a 100MW tidal farm off Brough Ness, on the southern most tip of the Orkney Islands.

3. Electricity generation aspects of SeaGen are regulated by the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment.  All aspects of construction in the marine environment are regulated by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency on behalf of Department of the Environment

4. Royal Haskoning is the leading environmental and engineering consultancy advising the wave and tidal sector internationally.  Established over 130 years ago, Royal Haskoning has 4000 staff based in 17 countries, working from 57 offices. 

For further information/interview requests:

Marine Current Turbines

Bethan Halls, Taylor Keogh Communications

Tel:         +44 (0)20 3170 8467 / +44 (0)7908 683690

Email:    bethan@taylorkeogh.com

Or

Paul Taylor, Taylor Keogh Communications

Tel:         +44 (0)20 3170 8465

Email:    paul@taylorkeogh.com

Strangford Lough SeaGen Science Group

David Erwin, Chairman

Tel:         +44 (0)7764 580514

Royal Haskoning

Frank Fortune, Technical Director

Tel:         +44 (0)7766 421193

Email:    f.fortune@royalhaskoning.com