Weekly Intelligence Brief
Fortnightly Intelligence Brief: August 17 - August 31
31 August 2010
Largest tidal turbine in US waters successfully generates electricity
This week's Tidal Today news brief includes the following companies and organisations: Ocean Renewable Power Co. & University of Maine; Marine Current Turbines, and RWE npower renewables; Grays Harbor and Pacific County; and Marine Current Turbines.
Largest tidal turbine in US waters successfully generates electricity
A 60-kilowatt tidal generator unit turbine launched in March by Ocean Renewable Power Co. (ORPC) has successfully generated grid-compatible electricity from currents at Cobscook Bay in Eastport, Maine, USA.
Given that the output from the turbine generator unit (TGU) is variable, ORPC has developed electronic systems to take that variable output and turn it into grid-compatible power.
Performance test results show that the TGU’s electrical output meets or exceeds expectations for the full range of current velocities encountered. ORPC will use the data obtained from its Beta Power System to fine tune the design of its commercial TidGen Power System, planned for installation in Eastport in late 2011.
The ORPC’s TGU - designed to produce electricity at water depths of 50 to 100ft - can be used at shallow tidal and deep-river sites, and is connected directly to an onshore substation through a single underwater transmission line.
The generator uses the power from the turbines to charge large battery packs, which are ferried daily by skiff to a Coast Guard station in Eastport. The battery packs provide almost 20 kilowatt-hours of power daily, about half of the energy needs of the 41-foot search and rescue boat docked there.
According to ORPC, it would take 25 60kw TGUs to equal the rated capacity of one wind turbine. However, the US$4 million TGU project has demonstrated that tidal power can be harnessed for Coast Guard and other federal facilities.
The company says tidal energy has the potential to be a billion dollar industry in Maine within the next seven to ten years, given that bodies of water around Eastport have some of the most robust tidal currents in the world.
Following a 60-day demonstration in October 2010, the project will be evaluated in hopes of applying the technology in places such as Maine or Alaska, where extreme tides and fast currents that make tidal power appropriate.
Eventually, plans call for the commercial TidGen system to be connected to the New England grid through the Bangor Hydro Electric Company system.
Monitoring of the marine impact is currently underway, via a partnership between the University of Maine and the ORPC.
Image credit: The ORPC's TGU
Welsh tidal turbine project unveiled
Marine Current Turbines, and project partner RWE npower renewables, have unveiled plans to harness tidal power off the north-west coast of Anglesey.
The proposed 10MW tidal turbine project, named Skerries Tidal Stream Array, would consist of up to nine turbines about 1km off the Anglesey coast, using SeaGen technology.
It will generate enough power to supply electricity to up to 10,000 homes – approximately 20% of Anglesey’s electricity demand.
Construction is scheduled to begin 2013-2014, subject to the project securing planning permits and finance.
Grays Harbor and Pacific County to explore tidal energy option
According to a report by the Aberdeen Daily World, Grays Harbor PUD commissioners have approved US$14,000 to study how energy can be generated from the powerful tides in Willapa Bay.
The PUDs are seeking federal and other monies to help develop and permit a site. A consultant's report found that Willapa Bay had the most tidal potential compared to Grays Harbor or the Columbia River.
PUD officials say tidal energy is attractive because it is a predictable renewable resource located in their backyard.
SeaGen passes two million kWh milestone
Marine Current Turbines’ SeaGen, the world’s first and only commercial scale tidal stream energy turbine has delivered its two millionth unit of electricity into the UK electricity grid.
The 1.2MW SeaGen, located in Strangford Lough, Northern IrelandIt is now operating 24 hours, seven days a week. According to the company, it is on course to be the first tidal system to meet the power generation criteria for the UK Government’s Marine Renewables Deployment Fund.
According to the company, SeaGen is producing as much electricity as an average off-shore wind turbine of double the capacity, however, unlike wind power generation, SeaGen’s output is wholly predictable.
SeaGen, is currently the only tidal energy system regularly generating power into the UK electricity grid and is the only tidal system to be accredited by OFGEM as a UK power station and also as a recipient of ROCs (Renewable Obligation Certificates).
