Atlantis Resources
Atlantis Resources tested two "Nereus" turbines at San Remo, the 150 kW AN-150 and the 400 kW AN-400.[35] In May 2008, the Aquanator was replaced by the AN-150.[33][36] In July 2008, the AN-400 (or Nereus II) turbine was tow-tested in an open ocean environment, reportedly with record power output and improved water-to-wire efficiency.[36] The San Remo site was then decommissioned in 2015.[33]
The Aquanator and Nereus devices consisted of a large number of straight Aquafoil blades mounted on a chain between two gearwheels, somewhat like a continuous track, but with the blades in the same plane as the wheels. They were designed for shallow water, around 25 m, and low current conditions. The Nereus turbine was 12 by.[33][36][37][38]
Atlantis also developed the "Solon" AS series, which was a ducted horizontal-axis axial turbine. In 2008, a 160 kW version was tested in Corio Bay.[34] In August 2008, the 500 kW AS-500 was tow-tested in Singaporean waters.[36][37] In August 2009, the 1 MW "Solon-K" was announced, with the aim to deploy it the following year.[39] In August 2010, the AK-1000 was unveiled at the companies facilities in Invergordon, described at the time as the largest tidal turbine of its type, rated at 1 MW. Unconventionally, this turbine had two rotors mounted either end of a common shaft, designed to harness the ebb and flood tides. Each rotor was 18 m diameter with three blades. The turbine was mounted on a gravity base foundation that weighed 1,300 tonnes and was 22.5 m high.[40] By October 2010, the turbine had been installed at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney, but developed a blade fault before it could be tested. Singapore based Tempco Manufacturing took responsibility for the fault.[41]
The following year, the 1 MW AR1000 was tested at EMEC. It was connected to the electricity grid in May 2011, and produced first power in July.[42] The turbine had a single three-bladed rotor, 18 m in diameter, and reached its rated power of 1 MW in a current of 2.65 m/s.[43] It was expected to undergo two years of testing,[43] however an issue with a non-redundant medium-voltage component prevented further generation to the grid.[42] The turbine was removed in late November 2011 and transported to the New and Renewable Energy Centre (Narec) in Blyth. There, it underwent testing on the 3 MW drive train testing facility, for accelerated life testing.[42]
In 2013, Atlantis Resources entered into a partnership with Lockheed Martin to develop and manufacture their next-generation turbine, the 1.5 MW AR1500 for use at the MeyGen project.[44][45]
SIMEC Atlantis
In January 2021, SIMEC Atlantis deployed a 0.5 MW AR500 tidal turbine in the Naru Strait in the Gotō island chain in southern Japan. The planned six-month test was extended to 11 months, with the turbine eventually being decommissioned in November.[46] The turbine was designed and manufactured at the Nigg Energy Park in Scotland, before being disassembled and shipped to Japan prior to installation.[47]
Also in 2021, SIMEC Atlantis announced they were ready to start construction of a 2 MW AR2000 turbine. This would include a novel variable pitch system developed in a European Union funded project. Two of these turbines were expected to be installed at the MeyGen project,[48] but this did not happen.
