tidal today

ScottishPower Renewables is evaluating three separate coastal sites for the development of the world's largest tidal stream projects. 

According to the company, this has been made possible by the successful trial of the world's most advanced tidal turbine - Lànstrøm. Lànstrøm's technology is a form of "tidal stream" power, which can be distinguished from "tidal barrage" power as there is no need to impound the water. This is expected to bring significant environmental advantages by avoiding impacts on sensitive inter-tidal zones around the coast.

Keith Anderson, director, ScottishPower Renewables, said the rapid technological advancement of tidal power has enabled the company to progress plans "for this substantial project which has the real potential to deliver significant environmental and economic benefits."

Two of the sites are being planned in Scotland, in the Pentland Firth and the Sound of Islay, with the third off the North Antrim coast in Northern Ireland. 

ScottishPower Renewables expects planning applications to be submitted to the Scottish Government and Northern Irish Assembly in summer 2009. 

Each site is being evaluated for with a view of installing between 5 and 20 tidal turbines. With each turbine having an installed capacity of IMW, this could lead to a combined output of 60MW – enough green energy for over 40,000 homes. Following planning approval, the projects could be operational by 2011.

All three projects are expected to deploy the Lànstrøm tidal turbine developed by Hammerfest Strøm AS, a company jointly owned by ScottishPower Renewables, StatoilHydro and Hammerfest Energi. 

 "Tidal power is completely renewable, being driven by the gravity of the sun and moon, with no carbon dioxide emissions, whilst being entirely predictable in nature. Scotland has the best tidal resources in Europe with the Pentland Firth alone containing enough tidal energy to meet a third of Scotland's power requirements," said Anderson.