The MeyGen project’s underwater turbine in Scotland powers up to 7,000 homes annually.
An underwater turbine in Scotland has reached a major milestone: six and a half years of continuous operation without needing unplanned maintenance. This achievement marks a critical step forward for tidal energy, which many scientists consider the world’s largest untapped source of renewable electricity.
The turbine is part of the MeyGen tidal energy project, located in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth off Scotland’s northern coast. With four turbines currently in operation, the site can generate enough electricity to power around 7,000 homes each year. The turbines each produce 1.5 megawatts of clean energy by capturing the natural motion of ocean tides.
What makes this achievement remarkable is the environment. The turbine sits about 40 meters (131 feet) underwater, where strong currents and saltwater corrosion can wear down machinery quickly. Yet one turbine, equipped with parts made by Swedish engineering company SKF, has kept spinning since its installation more than six years ago, without any unexpected breakdowns.
SKF confirmed that the bearings and seals on this turbine passed the 6.5-year mark without needing disruptive repairs. In an industry where maintenance can be extremely costly and complex, this reliability helps prove that large-scale underwater turbines can be commercially viable.
“This is a very significant milestone,” said Rémi Gruet, CEO of the trade group Ocean Energy Europe. “If turbines need to be pulled out every few years, the costs would make projects like this nearly impossible.”
Scotland has become a leader in marine energy—electricity produced from tides, currents, waves, or even ocean temperature differences. The MeyGen project, managed by SAE Renewables, has been sending power to the grid since 2016.
Globally, most tidal energy projects have been small-scale tests or pilot programs. Continuous power generation in real-world ocean conditions is still rare. That’s why the performance of the underwater turbine in Scotland stands out.
“There are still a lot of challenges,” said Andrea Copping, a marine energy expert from the University of Washington. “But this project has shown that long-term operation is possible.”
She noted that doubts from investors and governments often focus on whether turbines can survive in seawater without constant repairs. The MeyGen project appears to have answered that concern.
Despite this progress, tidal energy still faces major obstacles. These include environmental regulations, the high cost of installation, and potential conflicts with other ocean users, like the fishing or shipping industries. Connecting tidal power to the electric grid also requires expensive upgrades.
Fraser Johnson, the operations and maintenance manager at MeyGen, said adapting traditional wind turbines for underwater use is no easy task. Ocean currents are much denser than air, placing extra stress on the machines.
“The ocean is a brutal place for machinery,” Johnson said. Still, the record-setting turbine is expected to run for at least another year before it’s removed for maintenance.
MeyGen’s turbines sit in a narrow channel known for powerful tidal currents, an ideal setting for generating energy. To grow its impact, the company plans to add 20 more turbines by 2030 once grid upgrades are completed.
Eventually, the site could support as many as 130 turbines, each producing more energy than the currently installed turbines. Unlike some tidal projects that rely on dam-like structures called barrages, MeyGen’s turbines are placed directly on the seabed in open water.
Even with just four turbines, MeyGen is currently considered the world’s largest operating tidal energy site of its kind. But Johnson hopes that changes.
“It’s a title we wish we didn’t have,” he said. “We want more. We want others. Unfortunately, many projects haven’t been able to match what we’ve done.”
Tidal energy offers a predictable and consistent source of power, unlike wind or solar, which can be affected by weather. And because tides are driven by gravity, they’re not going away anytime soon.
For people living near the coast, especially in countries like the UK or island nations, tidal energy could mean more stable electricity prices and cleaner air. It also provides a potential solution to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, which contribute to climate change.
The underwater turbine in Scotland proves that, with the right technology and partnerships, tidal energy can play a bigger role in the world’s clean energy future.
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