MeyGen ^{The Tide of Change in Caithness}

MeyGen News

MeyGen and the Mey 10K

Published 12^th of May 2013

The Mey 10K race is the most northerly 10 kilometre race on the British Mainland. It is organised by the North Highland Harriers which were formed after the very successful 2009 Mey 10K event – www.northhighlandharriers.co.uk – MeyGen were keen to support the event in 2013 and were delighted to be one of the sponsors. Moreover, we were able dispatch a team of six runners to take part. The day was a great success and all members of the team finished with good times and in good spirits (despite the ever changing headwinds…). We would like to express our thanks to the Mey 10k organising committee and helpers on the day as well as congratulate the winners of the various categories. Simply, a well-run event (excuse the pun).

Memorandum of Understanding

Published 29^th of April 2013

After many years of co-operation, MeyGen Ltd. and Scrabster Harbour Trust entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) today. The MoU sets out how both companies plan on working together over the coming years in order to utilise the facilities that Scrabster has to offer for both construction and maintenance. The close proximity of Scrabster Harbour to MeyGen’s Inner Sound site and the recent developments within the harbour such as the new heavy lift quay and dredged depth make Scrabster a preferred location for MeyGen’s initial operations.  Should the project achieve consents from the Scottish Government and achieve financial sanction from its Shareholders it is the current intentions of MeyGen to use the harbour in 2014 and beyond as a location to deploy and maintain up to 6 tidal energy turbines.

Substantial interest from Caithness supply chain

Published 21^st of March 2013

MeyGen, in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, successfully hosted a Caithness supply chain event yesterday at ETEC, Thurso. The event was advertised in local newspapers and via chamber of commerce networks and resulted in the attendance of 40 local industrial business’s each of whom met with MeyGen’s Tier 1 suppliers.

The event was felt to be a great success by all parties and has greatly enhanced the appreciation that MeyGen’s Tier 1 suppliers have of the capabilities and facilities available to them across the North of Scotland. MeyGen, since its creation in October 2010 has invested nearly £1 million in the Highlands Region; and it is the ambition of the project, should it obtain offshore consents and reach commercial sanction, that it is able to continue this investment in local businesses and skills during construction and operation.

Project takes significant step forward

Published 20^th of March 2013

The MeyGen project took another significant forward step yesterday as it was granted planning permission by The Highland Council North Planning Application Committee to proceed with all onshore works at two sites near Canisbay village, the Ness of Quoys and the Ness of Huna. The planning permission enables the project to carry out civil works at either site within the next three years and will involve the construction of three Power Conversion Unit Buildings and associated infrastructure such as the installation of access roads and cabling. The consent relates to Phase 1 of the project which consists of 86MW. It is the current preference of MeyGen that the whole of Phase 1 be constructed at the Ness of Quoys and, should the project receive offshore consents from the Scottish Government and receive financial sanction by its shareholders, it is hoped that construction start as soon as the 3^rd quarter of 2013. Should the Ness of Quoys site progress in this manner, it is unlikely that the Ness of Huna site will be used for Phase 1. Although this is the case, it is still the desire of MeyGen to use the Ness of Huna for Phase 2.

Copies of the planning recommendation by The Highland Council Planning and Development Department can be found at the following link:
http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/committees/npac-comms/2013-03-19-npac-ag.htm

MeyGen Demonstration Array Awarded £10 million from UK Government

Published 27^th of February 2013

MeyGen has been awarded a capital grant of £10 million by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Meygen will use the grant to further develop its Demonstration Array via the Marine Energy Accelerator Developer (MEAD) process which started in March 2012.

The MeyGen project is the largest tidal energy development in Europe to seek “consent to build” from a government. The project is located in the Inner Sound in the Pentland Firth off the northern coast of Caithness, home to one of Europe’s largest tidal stream resources. MeyGen plans to build the project in two phases. In the first phase, which ultimately aims to produce 86MW, MeyGen plans to start construction of the Demonstration Array of approximately six tidal energy turbines in 2014/15.

Dan Pearson, CEO of MeyGen Ltd. commented “We are delighted to be awarded this prestigious capital grant following a thorough assessment process, and we applaud DECC for its continued support of the Marine Energy sector. The grant is a ringing endorsement of our project and will be used across all construction aspects of delivering the Demonstration Phase.”

Tier 2 Supply Chain Opportunity for Industrial Services in Caithness

Published 27^th of February 2013

Tidal energy business MeyGen Ltd plans to start construction for the onshore and offshore infrastructure needed for the first 86 MW phase of its 398 MW tidal energy project off the north coast of Caithness.

MeyGen is currently selecting its Tier 1 Suppliers to support an initial deployment of tidal energy turbines. In due course these suppliers will wish to appoint Tier 2 Suppliers.

As part of MeyGen’s commitment to providing opportunities to local businesses, a Tier 2 Supply Chain workshop is to be set up in Thurso on 19th March 2013.

Suppliers of industrial services such as, but not limited to: crane services; heavy transport services; onshore civil engineering/construction, mechanical, electrical and instrument services; fabrication, industrial IT and computer services; marine services such as support vessels and operators, can apply to attend this invitation only event.

If you would like to be considered please register your interest with Guy Newson at:

guy.newson@meygen.com

Related Downloads

Supplier Pack(last updated 04/03/2013 at 15:30)

MeyGen gathers more tidal and wave resource data in the Inner Sound

Published 17^th of February 2013

Last weekend, members of the MeyGen development team accompanied their research partners the Environmental Research Institute (ERI), Exeter University and contractors Mojo Maritime to deploy three Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP) on the Inner Sound seabed. The mobilisation of the installation was organised at Gills Bay harbour which proved itself to be ideal for this type of operation. The equipment will be gathering data which, once collected and processed will help add greater certainty of the available tidal resource at the site. The data, once processed will assist MeyGen and partners in the design of the turbines and the design development of the Mojo Installer vessel. The ADCPs are planned to be recovered in 1 months’ time. A picture of the team on the workboat prior to ADCP deployment is below.

In conjunction with the campaign to obtain greater site environmental data, MeyGen working with Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) are in the commissioning stages of marine X-Band radar deployment which is located at the Ness of Huna. The site was chosen due to its proximity to the project site and will allow MeyGen to gather data on waves and currents, spatially and we are thankful for the co-operation that local landowners/stakeholders have afforded the project in this instance. This equipment is planned to be deployed for 2-3 months.

Meygen are pleased to support the BBC Lifeline Appeal for Renewable World

Published 15^th of February 2013

Meygen are pleased to support the BBC Lifeline Appeal for Renewable World

Highland Council responds to consent application

Published 10^th of January 2013

The Highland Council who are a Statutory consultee have issued a letter to Marine Scotland not objecting to the MeyGen Section 36 application which was submitted in July 2012. A copy of the letter can be found at the following link.

It should be noted that these comments relate purely to the offshore component of the project and are disconnected from the onshore works consent which is currently with The Highland Council planning department for determination

Related Downloads

Highland Council Response

Meygen attends The Crown Estate event in Thurso

Published 28^th of November 2012

On the 28^th November 2012, MeyGen joined a number of marine energy developers and stakeholders at the Pentland Hotel in Thurso at a stakeholder event organised by The Crown Estate.  The event was a resounding success with great number of local residence, school children and interested parties passing through the doors and learning more about how the Pentland Firth and the MeyGen project was progressing.  Dan Pearson was on hand and took many stakeholders through the Environmental Statement and associated technical documentation (also available to download via this link).  The event was covered by several journalists, and one article was published recently in the Energy North supplement of the John O’Groats Journal; a copy of which can be read here.