Performance statistics released by Orkney-based Scotrenewables Tidal Power confirm that its SR2000 tidal-current turbine delivered impressive generation throughout the heavy North Atlantic storms that battered the Orkney Islands in late autumn and early winter.

During this period, the surface-floating SR2000 endured wave heights in excess of 7m; it managed to maintain continuous generation in sea states of over 4m ‘significant wave height’ and maintained 2MW rated power in seas of 2m ‘significant wave height’ — demonstrating that the turbine is capable of generating in around 99% of the conditions experienced at the Orkney site (www.scotrenewables.com).

Scotrenewables has been testing its SR2000 — said to be the world’s most powerful tidal-stream turbine — at EMEC’s Fall of Warness test site since August 2017, and it will continue to run through 2018.

CEO Andrew Scott said: “This is only our first winter operating the 2MW unit, and we are already fully validating the strong performance and stability of the turbine in really harsh conditions.”

The company said that it has only been using low-cost vessels for turbine maintenance and inspection through the period, and it has demonstrated service response times of under one hour along with ship-to-turbine crew transfers in up to 2m ‘significant wave heights’.

Mr Scott added: “Low-cost tidal energy is dependent on being able to maintain turbines cost-effectively and maximise generator up-time.

“With our locally stationed service team using small boats, as well as the ability to access the turbine in a range of sea conditions, we are proving that Scotrenewables has this essential capability with our technology and approach.”