A contract has been awarded to Kongsberg Maritime Ltd. to conduct underwater noise studies for an offshore renewables project which could eventually lead to 400MW being installed in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth. The contract, awarded by MeyGen Limited, will involve Kongsberg Maritime Ltd. conducting both baseline and operational noise measurements from prototype tidal devices to assess the potential effects of underwater noise on marine life.
“This is a major contract for Kongsberg Maritime Ltd., as the MeyGen Tidal Stream Project is one of the most significant tidal initiatives in Europe,” said David Shand, General Manager Offshore at Kongsberg Maritime Ltd. “The expertise we have in the renewables field and our successful track record in carrying out underwater noise studies was a key factor in securing this work.
The tidal stream project could lead to 400MW being installed by 2020. The project is located 3.5km2 in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth, between the north coast of Scotland and the island of Stroma, in water depths of between 20 – 40m. The results from the studies will be used by energy consultancy Xodus Group and MeyGen during the public consultation on the development.