New Project to Make Tidal Energy a Reality
16-Feb-2006
BMT Renewables Ltd is part of a consortium that has been awarded a grant of £878,000 from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for a two-year, £1.7 million research, design and development project known as ‘Pulse Stream 100'. ‘Pulse Stream 100' will demonstrate a highly innovative, grid connected, shallow water tidal stream power generator in the River Humber, England. Tidal stream energy is not yet as developed as other forms of renewable energy such as wind energy, but has the distinct advantages of being predictable due to the regularity of tides; devices installed to extract tidal energy do not have to be designed to withstand violent storms. They can also be unobtrusive with minimal visual impact.
The ‘Pulse Stream 100' converter - a device that uses a pair of hydrofoils which will oscillate across the tidal flow - will enable the extraction of tidal energy from shallow water (10-30m mean sea water level), an area not yet exploitable. The Pulse Stream device is the first to target this resource and it will therefore increase the total exploitable tidal current power available in UK waters. Furthermore, this will increase the economic viability of tidal stream energy as such shallow water is typically closer to areas of high energy demand, resulting in lower capital and operational costs.
The Carbon Trust recently concluded that the UK had a significant tidal stream resource which could supply 6% of total UK energy demand, excluding any tidal energy that could be extracted from shallow water. However, it has been estimated that if energy from shallow water is included it could meet 14% of total UK energy demand.
BMT is bringing its specialist expertise to the consortium in the following areas:
- operability analysis;
- lifecycle costing;
- design validation;
- environmental impact assessment; and
- health and safety assessment.
Dr Phil Thompson, Managing Director of BMT Renewables Ltd comments: "This innovative device has the potential to move forward significantly the practical and cost-effective implementation of tidal stream power in the UK. Over the last few years BMT has simulated many millions of hours of offshore operations for a range of operators and is pleased to be able to assist by bringing our understanding of operability and availability in the marine environment."
A joint venture company will be formed by the consortium as a development vehicle for the project. The consortium is headed by IT Power Ltd and comprises BMT Renewables Ltd, Pulse Generation Ltd, the University of Hull, CIC Omec Ltd and Econnect Ltd.
