Orbital Marine confirmed as tech partner for potential US deployment

Orbital Marine Power, the Scottish developer of floating tidal stream turbine technology, said today it is preparing for a first dip into US waters as it has been confirmed as the technology partner for Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO)’s proposed site in Washington State.

This confirmation comes after the US Department of Energy shortlisted two marine energy projects for USD 6 million (EUR 5.5m) in funding to develop a tidal energy research, development and demonstration pilot site. After an initial phase, one of the two projects will be funded to proceed with development of a full project. If OPALCO is selected, it proposes to deploy an Orbital O2 floating tidal energy turbine in Rosario Strait in the San Juan Islands to generate local power.

Orbital and OPALCO signed a memorandum of understanding in 2021.

“It’s positive to see OPALCO reaching this stage in an important funding process, and for their proposals to be firmly based on the deployment of Orbital technology,” commented Orbital Marine Power chief executive Andrew Scott.

“Whilst there is still substantial work to be done before we float our technology in US waters, this milestone underlines growing global appetite for the pioneering progress we are demonstrating in the floating tidal stream space,” he added.

(USD 1 = EUR 0.914)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!