PENTLAND FIRTH, Scotland,
Feb. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --
Atlantis Resources Limited has deployed the first AR1500 tidal
energy turbine with new Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) technology off
the coast of Scotland. The
installation is the latest development in the MeyGen project
designed to harness the motion of the tides to provide clean,
sustainable, predictable power for up to 175,000 homes in
Scotland.
Under contract and in partnership with Atlantis, Lockheed Martin
designed the 1.5 megawatt AR1500 turbine. In addition to system
design, Lockheed Martin developed, manufactured and delivered two
innovative subsystems, the Yaw Drive System (YDS) and the Variable
Pitch System (VPS). The two elements enable the turbine to rotate
autonomously around its base, so it always faces into the tidal
flow. The pitch angle of the turbine blades also adjusts to
optimize the power generation in a given tidal stream.
Installation and connection of the AR1500 was completed with
record-breaking efficiency in less than 60 minutes, representing a
significant time reduction compared to most similar systems. The
operation marks the first time a tidal turbine has been installed
and connected to the shore instantaneously.
"Tidal turbines must be highly reliable and resilient to
withstand and operate within the tough environment of a sea floor,"
said Frank Armijo, vice president of
Lockheed Martin Energy. "These design requirements are similar to
the reliability and durability needs of many of our aerospace
programs. With innovations in advanced manufacturing and materials,
and experiences gained in the design and production of undersea
systems, space projects and aeronautics, we're now helping to make
tidal energy more reliable and effective."
Tidal energy is produced by the surge of ocean water during the
rise and fall of tides. Submerged rotors harness the power of the
ocean currents to drive generators, which in turn produce
electricity.
The MeyGen project is currently the largest planned tidal energy
project in the world. The site, in the Pentland Firth, just 2
kilometers from Scotland's
northeast tip, covers some of the fastest flowing waters in the
United Kingdom. Atlantis has a
goal to deploy nearly 270 turbines to generate about 400 MW of
energy, enough to power 175,000 homes.
In 2013, Lockheed Martin and Atlantis entered into a teaming
partnership to develop technology, components and projects in the
tidal power sector on a global basis, beginning with the
AR1500.
Lockheed Martin Energy is a line of business within Lockheed
Martin that delivers comprehensive solutions across the energy
industry to include demand-response solutions, energy efficiency,
energy storage, nuclear systems, tidal energy technologies and
bioenergy generation.
For additional information, visit our website:
www.lockheedmartin.com/energy
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda,
Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace
company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is
principally engaged in the research, design, development,
manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology
systems, products and services. For additional information, visit
our website: www.lockheedmartin.com.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin