Lloyd’s Register to certify world’s largest tidal energy converter

Certification will be key to validating the technology and bringing the turbine into mass production.

Published: September 19, 2024

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Lloyd’s Register, a recognized renewable energy certification body, has signed an agreement with Orbital Marine Power to initiate certification of the world’s largest tidal energy converter, the TEC O2-X. This certification process, based on international IECRE standards, will be key to validate the technology and bring it into mass production.

The TEC O2-X, a tidal tidal turbine tidal turbine, has a capacity to supply 2.4 MW of electrical power. The assessment will be carried out in accordance with the IEC TS 62600-4 standard, with the expertise of ten specialists from Lloyd’s Register, who will analyze technical and safety aspects. The initial objective is to obtain an “IECRE Feasibility Statement”, a fundamental step to proceed with full certification.

This is how the O2 turbine works. Source: Orbital Marine Power

The importance of IECRE certification

The certification process follows a detailed path involving verification and validation of the technology. Verification culminates with the issuance of the IECRE Feasibility Statement, while validation ends with a Declaration of Conformity. This process is crucial, as it ensures that the technology complies with international standards of marine energy and can formally enter serial production.

Winston D’Souza, Global Technical Authority for Offshore Renewable Energy at Lloyd’s Register, expressed his enthusiasm:

We are proud to lead the evaluation of the TEC O2-X and support Orbital Marine Power in its commitments to the regions where its tidal energy converters will operate.

Series production of O2-X tidal energy converter

The design of the O2-X design is intended to be adaptable to a variety of tidal sites, facilitating mass production. Calum Miller, Orbital’s chief engineer, said,“This is an important step that reflects the maturity of the O2-X design and our strong project portfolio.”

Importantly, Orbital Marine Power sees IECRE certification as a tool to strengthen investor confidence, allowing them to move towards mass production of their innovative tidal energy technology. This move also positions marine energy as a sustainable solution for the global energy future.