A large UK maker of underwater turbines for generation of power using tidal currents has unveiled the largest tidal-power turbine built to date. Atlantis Resources Corp. held an unveiling ceremony this week, offering a look at the AK1000 turbine before it is submerged underwater in the far north of Scotland and connected to the electrical grid.

The first AK1000 will be installed on the seabed not far from where Atlantis and a group of partners plan to build a data center that will be powered by tidal energy. The facility will serve multiple clients and will be completely independent of the national electrical grid.

 The turbine unveiled in Scotland this week will be installed at a dedicated berth at the European Marine Energy Center (EMEC) later this summer. It provides 1MW of predictable power at water velocity of about 8.69ft/s (2.65m/s). The unit's rotor's diameter is 59ft (18m) and it stands about 74ft (22.5m) tall. AK1000 weighs 130 tons.

Atlantis CEO Timothy Cornelius said the turbine's installation was a milestone for both Atlantis and the UK's marine-power industry at large.

"It represents the culmination of 10 years of hard work, dedication and belief from all our partners, staff, directors and shareholders," Cornelius said in a statement. "The AK1000Ôäó is capable of unlocking the economic potential of the marine energy industry in Scotland and will greatly boost Scotland's renewable generation capacity in the years to come."

The unit was designed for harsh weather and rough open-ocean environments. Its nacelle was built by Soil Marine Dynamics and the gravity base structure and system assembly was built by Isleburn Engineering ÔÇô both UK companies.