Although tidal energy is clean and highly predictable, harsh marine conditions, high maintenance costs, and technical challenges have long hindered its large-scale deployment. A new breakthrough in Scotland, however, is poised to change that.
Global engineering leader SKF has announced that its systems installed in the MeyGen tidal stream array have operated continuously for more than six years without any unplanned maintenance — setting a world record for tidal turbine reliability. This milestone represents a major achievement for the MeyGen project, operated by SAE Renewables and still the world's largest tidal energy array. Located in the Pentland Firth off Scotland's northern coast, the project tests the long-term performance of tidal energy systems under real-world conditions.
SKF states that tidal energy offers a reliable pathway to diversify the global energy mix and reduce carbon emissions, making it a valuable solution for future energy strategies. The company achieved this breakthrough by supplying high-performance components — including specialized bearings and seals for the main rotor, yaw system, and pitch system — to turbines developed by Bristol-based Proteus Marine Renewables. These components are engineered to operate reliably at depths of nearly 30 meters.
The MeyGen pilot array began operation in 2017, with turbines running continuously since 2018. This maintenance-free endurance is a long-sought goal in the tidal energy sector. Drew Blaxland, CEO of Proteus Marine Renewables, said SKF's contribution went far beyond component supply and played a critical role in Proteus' ongoing improvement and risk-reduction efforts.
The next phase will be significantly larger. SKF will supply a fully integrated 3MW powertrain for Proteus' new AR3000 turbine, with deployments planned to begin in 2026 at sites in Scotland, France, and Japan. Up to 30 units are scheduled initially, with each turbine capable of powering approximately 3,000 homes. Proteus ultimately aims to scale to 300 turbines.
Fraser Johnson, Operations and Maintenance Manager for the MeyGen tidal array, stated that MeyGen's successful performance demonstrates the reliability of tidal technology and its potential as a predictable renewable energy source. He expressed delight at working with Proteus, supported by SKF, toward full commercial deployment.
What sets tidal energy apart is its predictability — unlike solar or wind, it follows fixed cycles. The challenge lies in designing turbines that can withstand years of turbulent underwater currents and extreme flows. SKF and Proteus appear to have solved this with the MeyGen array.
This breakthrough comes as the UK targets 1GW of tidal stream capacity by 2035 — enough to power around 829,000 homes. According to the UK's Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and Imperial College London, the sector could generate £17 billion in value and create 15,000 jobs in the UK alone.
The global tidal energy market was valued at $1.3 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $8.1 billion by 2030. With costs continuing to fall, tidal energy is expected to compete with nuclear within a decade.
Challenges remain. Suitable sites require strong tidal ranges of at least 4–5m (e.g., Canada's Bay of Fundy reaches 15m), but many past turbines were destroyed by extreme currents. Flow speeds of around 6 knots exert enormous forces on components — making SKF's durable bearings and seals critical.
Blaxland noted that validated estimates suggest ~100GW of nearshore tidal stream potential globally, including 15GW in Europe — enough to power 15 million European homes. Long-term affordability hinges on levelized cost of energy (LCoE). If the AR3000 meets expectations, tidal energy could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with solar and wind as a major clean energy source.
