Tidal streams provide reliable and predictable wind energy. Rolls-Royce, a subsidiary of Tidal Generation Limited has developed a 500-kW turbine prototype to harvest it. The prototype tidal turbine is located underwater off the Orkney Islands, Scotland, and has generated over 100 MWh of electrical power into the national grid.
As part of the Energy Technologies Institute funded ReDAPT (Reliable Data Acquisition Platform for Tidal) consortium project, Rolls-Royce is building a 1-MW tidal turbine demonstration unit that will deploy in mid-2012. The project will deliver detailed environmental and performance information unavailable at this scale in real-sea conditions.
The tidal unit’s three-bladed turbine is attached by a tripod to the seabed and can operate fully submerged at a water depth of 40m. Its design allows the turbine to continually rotate to face the incoming tide at the best angle. In addition, the turbine is semi-buoyant and can be easily towed to and from the point of operation, minimizing installation and maintenance costs by avoiding the need for specialized transport vessels.
The prototype was installed as part of the Deep-Gen III project, co-funded by the UK government-backed Technology Strategy Board, and sits at the European Marine Energy Center’s offshore test site. The tidal turbine is the Center’s first project to receive Renewable Obligation Certificates and reach 100 MWh of supply to the grid.
Because of its predictability, deep water tidal stream power could be valuable in meeting electricity demands and carbon emissions reduction goals around the world. Rolls-Royce says its tidal technology could generate up to 30 TWh (terawatt-hours) of UK electricity, equivalent to about 7.5% of its electricity needs.
The tidal turbine is semi-buoyant and can be towed to and from the point of operation, minimizing installation and maintenance costs by avoiding the need for transport vessels.
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