Spanish tidal energy developer, Magallanes Renovables, has generated its first electricity into the U.K. national grid following connection at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC).

The ATIR tidal energy converter (TEC) was installed at EMEC’s Fall of Warness tidal energy test site in Orkney, Scotland last month by Orkney-based Leask Marine, as part of the Ocean_2G project. 

The project is funded by the Fast Track to Innovation pilot scheme, part of the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. Since installation, the team have worked hard to prepare the ATIR for grid connection.

The ATIR was successfully connected to the grid via EMEC’s subsea cables and onshore substation on Mar. 2, 2019, and it generated its first power a short time after. The first generation of power is a major milestone within the Ocean_2G project, which aims to test, validate and pre-certify Magallanes device. The device will now undergo a structured program of testing, which will demonstrate the operational performance of the ATIR, in preparation for readying it to market. —EMEC