Japan certifies Proteus tidal turbine, now exporting power to national grid
Following installation in the Naru Strait, the composite-bladed, 1.1-megawatt turbine has met all national requirements for safety and performance, a milestone to further tidal generation capacity.
Source | Proteus Marine Renewable
Marine energy technology and offshore services provider Proteus Marine Renewables (Bristol, U.K.) has received certification from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), the national authority responsible for regulating energy infrastructure and technology, for the company’s AR1100 1.1-megawatt tidal turbine. The certification confirms the system meets Japan’s regulatory standards for power generation, marking another important step forward for tidal energy in the country. The turbine is now successfully exporting power to the national grid.
This achievement follows a rigorous review and testing process by METI, verifying the AR1100’s operational safety and reliability. Certification was granted after successful performance demonstrations under a range of tidal conditions, including safe shutdown procedures, grid compliance and emergency response capabilities.
This milestone builds on the earlier success of the AR500 pilot project in 2021, where a 500-kilowatt device achieved 97% turbine availability in Japanese waters. Leveraging its modular design, Proteus upgraded the turbine with advanced pitch and yaw control systems and other key enhancements, boosting performance and efficiency to achieve a 1.1-megawatt rated capacity.
As a Series 2 turbine, the AR1100 represents the next stage in Proteus’ roadmap for scaling tidal power and serves as the forerunner to the AR3000 — the company’s most powerful turbine to date, scheduled for deployment in 2028.
This deployment forms part of a long-standing collaboration between Proteus and Kyuden Mirai Energy Co. Inc. (KME) that is the representative company for this project, aimed at supporting Japan’s renewable energy transition and demonstrating how tidal energy can become a reliable part of Japan’s future energy mix.
Following the success of this deployment, Proteus and KME are now exploring additional opportunities to expand tidal generation capacity in Japan.
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