Description
The 4 MW SEASTAR (Sustainable European Subsea Tidal Array) project will be deployed at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) Fall of Warness Tidal Test Site. It will comprise an array of up to sixteen turbines, with a total generation capacity of 4 MW. Environmental monitoring will be carried out to understand the effects of a large turbine array. Nova used this carefully monitored approach at the world’s first tidal turbine array – the Shetland Tidal Array, Scotland. It has helped to demonstrate the reliability and performance of our turbines and build confidence in tidal energy.
The SEASTAR Project will be installed and commissioned in a single phase in 2027/27. The array will be operated at the Fall of Warness site until decommissioning which will take place in 2046.
Location
Fall of Warness, Eday, Orkney Island, Scotland, UK.
Licensing Information
Marine Licence from Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate Licensing Operations Team (MD-LOT). Implemented under EMEC’s site-wide licence for the Fall of Warness under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.
Project Progress
Turbines to be installed and commissioned 2027/28.
Key Environmental Issues
Collision risk and disturbance for marine mammals and diving birds. Potential impacts on harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) are a particular concern due to the declining nature of the species population in the north Scotland region.