Originally published February 6 2006
Tidal energy project will soon power parts of the UK
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
In the UK, a commercial scale tidal energy electric generator will be installed near Strangford Lough by Marine Current Turbine (MCT).
A UK company has been granted construction approval for installation of a commercial scale tidal energy electric generator that is similar in design to that of an upside down wind turbine, except with two smaller turbines mounted on each side of a monopile.
Marine Current Turbine (MCT) received the approval by the Environment & Heritage Service in Northern Ireland to install its next generation tidal energy device, the 1000 kW SeaGen tidal energy turbine, in Northern Ireland's Strangford Lough, a tidal estuary channel with considerable energy potential.
The SeaGen project, which has received a GBP 4.27 million (USD$ 7.4 million) grant from the UK's Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) technology program, will be installed and connected to the National Grid next year.
They can be installed in the sea at places with high tidal current velocities, or in a few places with fast enough continuous ocean currents, to take out energy from these huge volumes of flowing water.
The technology under development by MCT consists of twin axial flow rotors of 15m to 20m in diameter, each driving a generator via a gearbox much like a hydro-electric turbine or a wind turbine.
The twin power units of each system are mounted on wing-like extensions either side of a tubular steel monopile some 3 m in diameter which is set into a hole drilled into the seabed.
A unique, patented feature of MCT's technology is that the turbines and accompanying power units can be raised bodily up the support pile clear above sea-level to permit access for maintenance from small service vessels.
MCT said that Environmental Impact Analyses completed by independent consultants have confirmed their belief that the technology does not offer any serious threat to fish or marine mammals.
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