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KML SUCCESS WITH RENEWABLES

KML SUCCESS WITH RENEWABLES

Diccon Rogers & Nikki Meek of KML met with Energy Minister Charles Hendry when he visited the South West to highlight renewable energy related activity and investment in the region.

At Tidal Generation Limited (TGL), the Bristol based Rolls-Royce subsidiary which is pioneering tidal energy technology with an innovative subsea project, Charles met with key staff and was shown the control room which operates the company's tidal stream turbine in Orkney Islands, Scotland. The Tidal Turbine exports power to feed in to the National Grid Harnessing the reliable and predictable energy of tidal streams, the Rolls-Royce tidal turbine unit has successfully generated and fed over 100 megawatt hours (MWh) of electrical power into the national grid.

Charles Hendry MP commented: “The UK is leading the global renewables industry in the development of pioneering tidal energy technology. Our proposals to support the technology, under the Renewables Obligation, show that we are serious about getting marine into the mainstream.”

“I am delighted that Rolls-Royce is playing a lead role by transferring technology know-how from its wider power generation businesses to its successful Orkney Islands pilot project. This and similar projects will be instrumental in enabling cleaner, greener tidal power to fulfill its potential as part of a diverse UK energy mix.”

KML's crane barge BD6074 is contracted to lift the turbine (approx 125te without blades & fittings) during the operations for deployment and retrieval, and maintenance on the quayside. On the significant and exciting arrival of the new 1mw turbine, KML conducted and carried out the safe lift to unload and place the device onto its cradles.

TGL commented : “The professionalism of the KML lift of the 1MW turbine was commendable and these high standards should be maintained throughout”