Atlantis Resources Corporation: Pushing the potential of tidal power.

Standing 22.5 metres tall, with a twin set of rotors spanning 18 metres in diameter, the AK1000™ is the world’s largest rotor diameter tidal turbine. Atlantis Resources asked us to review the design of their full-scale prototype for testing at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland.

This vast asset was the first of its kind in the fledgling tidal energy sector. The destination for the tidal turbine – the harsh North Atlantic waters – was a further challenge. Given the nature of the operational environment, the time available to install the AK1000™ was limited to just several days. This factor informed the structure’s gravity-based design, assisting quick installation.

We supported our client in two main ways:

• conducting a review to EMEC standards and guidelines, covering the structural and foundation aspects of the turbine’s design

• creating independent computational fluid dynamic models to validate the forces that would act on the turbine.

The AK1000™ begins a commissioning and operation programme that will last up to three years. The power generated from this programme will contribute to the local grid and the project will help shape the future of tidal power.