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The MeyGen tidal stream project in northern Scotland reached a major milestone this week as it connected to the distribution network for the first time.
The connection required installation of one of the longest underground 33kV power export cables in the UK by the network operator Scottish Hydro Electric Power Distribution (SHEPD).
The flagship 400MW project, which will be the largest tidal array in Europe, is being developed by Atlantis and has required more than 25km of distribution network upgrades, as well as infrastructure upgrades at two substations to comply with the National Grid Code.
The new connection to SHEPDs network required investment of more than £1 million to be made pre financial close of Phase 1A, in order for it to be ready on time for the project. The first four turbines, totalling 6MW capacity, will be installed in the coming months.
Atlantis chief executive Tim Cornelius said: “The connection of our flagship MeyGen project to the SHEPD distribution network marks a huge technical major milestone for Atlantis and the tidal stream industry more broadly.
“It has involved years of hard work, persistence, perseverance and determination by our team…We believe this is now the world’s largest energised grid connection of any commercial tidal stream array.”
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