Unveiled its ground-breaking AK-1000™ tidal turbine and has agreed a commercial scale deployment of the technology at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney

Atlantis Resources Corporation, the international marine energy company, has unveiled its ground-breaking AK-1000™ tidal turbine and has agreed a commercial scale deployment of the technology at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney.

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EMEC’s tidal test site in the Fall of Warness experiences rapid tidal flows and significant wave action. The AK-1000™ has been designed specifically for harsh marine environments. It features the world’s most efficient blades – measuring a record 18 meters in rotor diameter – minimal moving parts and will be capable of generating 1MW of power in a 2.6m/s tidal current; enough energy for over 1,000 homes.

Deployment of the AK-1000™ turbine at EMEC is scheduled for summer 2010 and Atlantis has committed to build a comprehensive local supply chain, with manufacturing, installation, operations and maintenance being conducted in the UK. The company will award three major contracts associated with the deployment, supporting over 100 UK jobs.

The AK-1000™ will be Atlantis’ second grid-connected turbine. Its Nereus turbine installation in San Remo, Australia, first deployed in 2006, continues to generate power for the grid today.

Mike Smith, Chief Operating Officer of Atlantis, said: “AK-1000 will be the most efficient turbine with the largest rotor diameter ever to be deployed. Its eighteen metre sweep is the height of a typical five storey building. But we’ve balanced power and efficiency with long-term reliability, an essential ingredient for a harsh environment turbine.

“This announcement reiterates our commitment to the UK marine power market. By trialling at EMEC, we will ensure that the AK-1000 is ideally suited for use in UK waters and is visible to the UK supply chain. The deployment will also provide a huge boost to the local economy, as we begin a phased roll-out here.”

Neil Kermode, Managing Director of EMEC, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Atlantis to EMEC, further demonstrating our ability to draw in the biggest developers in the industry. EMEC is now attracting developers with commercial scale turbines to test, entering a new phase for the company and delivering on our mandate to accelerate marine energy deployment.”