MeyGen signs UK’s largest marine energy lease

Atlantis, owner of the world's largest planned tidal stream energy project, MeyGen, announces that it has signed a 398MW, 25-year seabed lease with the UK Crown Estate.

The lease was secured after MeyGen satisfied the extensive development obligations contained within its five-year agreement for lease, which was signed in October 2010. It is the largest marine energy lease to be awarded by The Crown Estate and is the first in The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters region.

Dan Pearson, Chief Executive of MeyGen, commented:

Signing the Lease with The Crown Estate is a significant achievement being the first of its kind and demonstrates how a commercial scale energy project can be designed, consented, engineered and funded within four years. This is the culmination of a talented and committed team working alongside stakeholders and governments who are determined to launch a new energy sector within Scotland and the UK. We are thankful to all who have helped us along the journey and look forward to delivering the first phase.

Ronnie Quinn, Head of Ocean Energy, The Crown Estate stated:

Our commitment to invest in and agree a lease for the Meygen project continues our strategy to explore tidal stream energy on a commercial scale and its potential to help unlock the nation's tidal energy resources over the long-term.

We recently reported that Atlantis has agreed terms with a funding syndicate for a package to finance Phase 1A of the MeyGen project. Construction is expected to commence in Q4 2014 with first power to the grid and revenues being earned in H1 2016.

The first stage (Phase 1A) of the project will include the installation of 4 x 1.5 megawatt turbines offshore as well as the construction of all onshore infrastructure to support the project, including a substation, a grid connection and the installation of power export cables. Three turbines will be supplied by Andritz Hydro Hammerfest and one Lockheed Martin-designed turbine supplied by Atlantis.