An equity stake in Scottish tidal-turbine company strengthens ABB’s renewables assets
Some key benefits of the Scotreneable design include that it is a floating design so the turbines can be placed in regions of typically highest tidal velocity (up to 50% higher energy availability compared to seabed mounted devices). All installation and maintenance operations can be undertaken using small low costs vessels. A compliant mooring system allows deployment in deep waters. And a passive yaw system improves energy conversion and simplifies design.
ABB, the global power and automation technology group, has led a $12 million investment in Scotrenewables Tidal Power, a developer of tidal turbine systems, to support the rollout of a new hydrokinetic device and to expand ABB’s renewable energy assets.
ABB’s participation was made through its venture capital unit, ABB Technology Ventures (ATV), which invests in early and growth stage companies with technologies of strategic importance to the industries it serves. The investment round included participation from existing strategic investors Total New Energies, a unit of oil major Total, and Fred Olsen, the Norwegian maritime conglomerate, through its associated Bonheur and Ganger Rolf holding companies.
The funding is being used to roll out a larger and more advanced tidal energy conversion system known as the SR2000. The floating 2 MW turbine includes a number of innovations to deliver simplicity, low mass, rapid connection and disconnection, and heightened survivability. Scheduled for completion next year, it will be the first of a number of commercial units installed in the Lashy Sound tidal demonstrator project in Orkney, where Scotrenewables is based.
“ABB led a comprehensive review of tidal stream technology and concluded that Scotrenewables was well below its peers in capital outlay per megawatt and overall power delivery cost,” said Grant Allen, senior VP of ATV. “Scotrenewables has designed a remarkably robust hydrokinetic unit which, by nature of its easily accessible floating design bypasses many of the maintenance issues that confront other marine startups.”
Aligning with Scotrenewables is a natural, strategic fit for ABB given the switchgear, transformers, cabling and other electrical gear used in the containerized design. Through its UK operations, ABB engineers have already been working closely with the company on packaging and integration. The ATV investment complements current competencies in marine energy harvesting through ABB’s prior early-stage investment in Aquamarine, a leader in near-shore wave power development.
Scotrenewables Tidal Power Co. Ltd.
www.scotrenewables.com
ABB
www.abb.com
Filed Under: Financing, News
