Simec Atlantis Energy wants to build a data centre in the Caithness region of Scotland that would be partly powered  via a private wire network from tidal turbines at the company’s MeyGen project site.

MeyGen has a 6MW operational array which has exported 20,000MWh of power to the grid. However it also has a seabed lease and consents secured for a further 80MW of tidal capacity. The company proposes to develp the data centre by 2024, in line with the expansion plans for the tidal array. It has been working with Aecom to assess the feasibility of connecting to high speed international fibre optic connections and undertake the systems design for such a data centre.

The compnay says such a project could also alleviate constraints on other local renewable energy development, which is restricted by the current grid capacity and the closure of renewable energy subsidy mechanisms. Other projects could be able to sell power directly to the data centre alongside  MeyGen, via a new private wire network.

Atlantis said it is  in discussions with data centre operators to progress the project.

Tim Cornelius, chief executive of Simec Atlantis, said: “At MeyGen we have many of the ingredients to provide clean power to the data centre, including a large grid connection agreement, proximity to international fibre optic connections and persistent cool weather.”

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