NEW ENERGY COMES ROLLING IN ON TIDES

Why is the phrase “hydrokinetic energy” more accurate than just plain old “wave energy”? Tidal Energy, for one thing. It is a source of energy as powerful as the ocean rolling in. And it is as predictable as, well, as the tides.

There are actually 3 categories of hydrokinetic energies: Wave (harvested from the oceans), tidal (harvested from oceans, lakes, bays and estuaries) and current (harvested from ocean and river currents).

Estimated annual world tidal power potential: ~ 150 billion kilowatt-hours. UK: ~13 billion kilowatt-hours (80+% in Scottish waters).

A major tidal energy project is being planned for 3 sites off the coasts of Northern Ireland and Scotland. It will put the Lànstrøm tidal energy device, said to be one of the world's most advanced tidal turbines, to the test.

The bad news: There is a rising tide of questions about the environmental impacts of hydrokinetic energies. ScottishPower, the company developing the tidal energy installations, insists there is no threat to marine life.

The good news: The UK’s Marine Conservation Society will do a rigorous environmental impact assessment of the ScottishPower proposal.

If the industrial revolution taught one hard lesson with certainty, it is that a nascent energy source, no matter how promising, should only be developed to its fullest potential after the truth about its environmental impacts is clear.

Artist's rendering of the Lànstrøm tidal energy device. (click to enlarge)

Major plans for tidal energy farm
September 29, 2008 (BBC News)
and
ScottishPower Renewables Announce The Largest Tidal Stream Projects In The World
29 September 2008 (ScottishPower)

WHO
ScottishPower Renewables (Keith Anderson, Director)

WHAT
ScottishPower is planning a major tidal energy project using the Lànstrøm tidal energy device.

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WHEN
- ScottishPower expects to apply for planning permission in 2009.
- The projects could be operational by 2011.
- The Lànstrøm tidal energy device has been in testing for 4 years.

WHERE
- The ScottishPower sites are at Pentland Firth and the Sound of Islay in Scotland and off the Antrim Coast of Northern Ireland.
- The Lànstrøm device has been tested in a Norwegian fjord.

WHY
- The Lanstrom tidal turbine: An underwater wind turbine with shorter, more slowly turning blades. The rotor turns to gather energy from both incoming and outgoing tides.
- The 3 proposed installations will have 20 Lanstrom 1-megawatt turbines at each site for a total capacity of 20 megawatts each, or 60 megawatts all together.
- The Lànstrøm turbines are 30 meters tall (on 3 legs) and be as deep as 100 meters below sea level.
- The 20-meter blades are installed a miniumu of 10 meters below the surface to avoid watercraft.
- Trawlers will be banned from turbine zones for safety reasons.
- Development has been through the policy and financial support of the Scottish government.

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QUOTES
Keith Anderson, Director, ScottishPower Renewables: “This is a historic day for the development of marine energy. The rapid technological advancement of tidal power has enabled us to progress plans for this substantial project which has the real potential to deliver significant environmental and economic benefits… driven by the gravity of the sun and moon, with no carbon dioxide emissions, whilst being entirely predictable in nature…Following significant research and development in Scotland during the 70’s and 80’s, the opportunity associated with the manufacturing of on-shore wind turbines was not realised. Tidal power now provides Scotland with another chance to become the global leader in a new renewable energy industry…”