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New Energy World
New Energy World embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low carbon technologies.
UK tidal energy project gains EU research backing as ‘world first’
8/11/2023
Orbital, along with sector leading project partners, has been selected by the European Commission’s (EC) Horizon Europe Programme to deliver a 9.6 MW multi-turbine tidal energy array, claimed to be be a world first.
The EURO-TIDES (EUROpean Tidal energy pilot farm focused on Industrial Design, Environmental mitigation and Sustainability) project, which will focus on accelerating the commercial deployment of Orbital’s pioneering O2 floating tidal stream technology, brings together expertise from Ocean Energy Europe, Laborelec, Marasoft, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC), the Center for Wind Power Drives (CWD) of RWTH Aachen University, Energie De La Lune and the University of Edinburgh.
The O2 is claimed to be the world’s most powerful tidal turbine, able to generate 2MW+. Orbital’s floating technology captures the strongest tidal and river currents, guaranteeing higher yield. These exist close to the surface, rather than at the seabed, explains the company. O2 has been operational since July 2021, exporting electricity to the Orkney grid. It is expected to offset around 2,000 t/y of CO2 and power 1,700 UK homes while creating high value jobs within the local economy over the course of its operational life.
According to Orbital, EURO-TIDES will deliver ‘a step change’ in the wider commercialisation programme for the scale deployment of its technology. The project will also work to bring forward commercial scale tidal projects in French waters to augment Orbital’s existing commercial project portfolio in the UK and overseas.
The EC has identified that transitioning from single turbine deployments to multi-turbine arrays is the next important milestone for the tidal stream sector as it moves towards contributing towards net zero targets in the UK, European Union and beyond.
Commenting on the announcement, Andrew Scott, CEO of Orbital Marine Power, says: ‘Orbital is committed to ensuring tidal stream energy makes a material contribution to decarbonising energy systems while supporting a just transition through the creation of a new industrial sector. The endorsement that comes from this selection is a huge boost to that objective while also enabling us, and our project partners, to accelerate that positive vision.’
New tidal barrier proposal across The Wash
Plans for a tidal barrier across The Wash, an estuary on the east cost of England, have secured backing from Centrica, according to developer Centre Port. The proposed £2bn, 12-mile tidal energy scheme could supply green energy from tidal turbines to 600,000 homes.
If built, the project would feature what is claimed would be the world’s first tidal powered deep-sea container terminal, capable of processing 1.5–4 million containers annually.
As well as supplying green energy to shipping operations, the 12-mile long structure would also provide landside flood defences for up to a million people, explains Centre Port. It could also provide a 20-minute road link for motorists, connecting Lincolnshire and Norfolk.
Centrica has backed preliminary studies and has reportedly expressed an interest in purchasing the generated green power.
