Digest of recent tidal energy development news
by David Hoyle
Author’s note:
While culling articles on tidal and wave energy for this digest from my Google Alerts feeds I was pleased to see a large number of articles from the US. Previously, UK articles on tidal and wave energy were dominant. It’s encouraging that the US Department of Energy is supporting research by its National Renewable Energy Laboratory as well as by universities on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Total US tidal energy potential is estimated as 220 TWh/year (enough to power 21 million homes), while the total tidal potential for the UK is around 50 TWh/year. Note that the US wave energy potential at 1,400 TWh/year dwarfs the tidal potential, so I think it’s worth our while to keep abreast of wave energy developments!
General Interest
This excellent, short video provides an accessible overview of available technologies for tidal power generation.
Tidal energy could be huge – why isn’t it?
USA
Maine’s ORPC plans to test a smaller version of its RivGen turbine technology at the site of the former Great Northern Paper Co. paper mill in Millinocket. Thanks to John Johnson for pointing out this article!
Renewable energy company plans to test its technology at Millinocket mill site
The Atlantic Marine Energy Center (AMEC) led by UNH has been awarded nearly $10 million from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to expand scientific understanding and study the overall effectiveness of wave energy and tidal energy conversion.
UNH-led Atlantic Marine Energy Center Receives Nearly $10 Million From DOE
The Department of Energy (DOE) is also collaborating with Florida Atlantic University on a vessel for testing tidal turbines (here referred to as current energy converters or CECs).
Design Efforts Proceeding for Mobile Test Vessel for Tidal Energy
The DOE will provide $25 million funding for testing of wave energy convertors at Oregon State University’s PacWave facility off the central Oregon coast.
Dept. of Energy awards $25 million for wave energy technology testing at Oregon State facility | Oregon State University
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is collaborating with Stevens Institute of Technology and UMass Amherst to develop variable geometry wave energy converters.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2HoI0LMqqc
Researchers from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are making tidal energy resource measurements in Cook Inlet, Alaska. 95% of the US tidal energy potential is located in Alaska.
Turning the Tide for Renewables in Alaska | AltEnergyMag
An all female team from the University of Florida won the IBM hackathon with their tidal energy project.
New generation turns to tidal energy using high tech
Canada
Sustainable Marine is preparing to connect their PLAT-I tidal turbine unit to the grid this year to harness the power of the tides in the Bay of Fundy.
Sustainable Marine Ready To Deliver Tidal Energy In Early ’22
United Kingdom
The UK government announced last fall that 20 million pounds ($27 million) per year would be ring fenced to develop tidal stream energy technologies.
UK government announces biggest investment into Britain’s tidal power – Business Leader News
A major tidal lagoon project called DST Blue Eden is planned for the waterfront of Swansea in southwest Wales.
$2.35 billion tidal lagoon project with underwater turbines planned
The European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in the Orkney Islands off Scotland has become a hub for marine power experimentation and innovation. This article mentions testing of “the world’s most powerful” Orbital O2 turbine, ATIR, Mocean, and other technologies.
Energy Islands: Orkney’s radical marine power experiment is a blueprint for the future
EMEC won the 2021 Scottish Champion of Renewable award. Twenty-one wave and tidal energy clients from 11 countries have tested 34 marine energy devices to date at EMEC.
EMEC wins Champion of Renewables award 2021
This site contains an excellent animation of the ATIR turbine that is being tested at EMEC.
Magallanes Renovables | » Technology
This is a great video of the Blue X offshore wave energy converter being tested at EMEC.
Blue X in Action
Both Orbital Marine and Nova Innovation have plans to deploy their tidal turbine technologies in the Welsh Anglesey Morlais project. Orbital Marine also plans deployment at PTEC on the Isle of Wight.
Tidal Power: Orbital Eyes Multi-device Deployment Across UK
Tidal Energy Firms Nova Innovation, Sabella Secure 12MW Berth in Wales
Minesto’s underwater kites fly figure-eights in slow speed tidal currents; the faster speed of the flying kite relative to the water drives the propeller efficiently to generate electricity.
The underwater ‘kites’ generating electricity as they move – BBC News
Winged Machines Take Flight in Faroe Islands Dark Waters Generating Electricity From the Ocean | Science Times
Rest of World
Eco Wave Power, a Swedish company founded in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 2011 has developed an onshore/nearshore wave energy conversion technology. The first article includes a good video of the technology in operation. The second article says they are preparing to connect a system to the electrical grid in Israel.
Floating machine uses the motion of the ocean to generate renewable energy – Future Blink
Eco Wave Power readies Israeli project for grid connection