of simec atlantis energy. the company says the turbines at the meygen site are expected to last 25 years, and only need to come ouof the water for intenance every six years. >> it's in a very, very stable environment and more importantly from a permitting and consenting perspective, you don't see them and you don't hear them and that's very, very important for local communities. >> sreenivasan: but it's expsive being first. the cost of producing tidal energy is more than two and a half times the tre established echnology of offshore wind. the meygen project has cost about $64 million so r, and has been largely subsidized with public money. almost half of the total cost has come fromhe scottish vernment. >>e we ry, very grateful for the support that we have ree ceived over st 10 years from the u.k. government and in spceecific refero scottish government support because it's been outstanding. but of course the aspiration is to eventually wean itself off subsidy. >> eesrvasan: as the project continues to expand,