Tidal Power

The flowing waters in the rivers and tidal waves can be a good source of alternative energy. With 70% of the earth's surface covered with water, a great amount of energy can be produced by placing turbines at strategic locations under strong currents. This method of generating electric power is called hydrokinetic power generation. In fact, plans are under way to install 875 submerged turbines inside the Niagara river. 1 Comment

Paul Taylor: World’s first commercial-scale tidal stream turbine set to be installed. Bristol-based Marine Current Turbines (MCT) is set to deploy its 1.2MW SeaGen Tidal System in Strangford Narrows, Northern Ireland on Easter Monday. Producing enough clean energy for 1000 homes (when fully operational), this will be the first, commercial scale, tidal stream turbine installed and operating anywhere in the world. It will generate one of the most environmentally-friendly forms of energy - it makes no noise, is almost completely below the surface, never runs out and has zero emissions. 11 Comments

Paul Taylor: Installation Of The World's First Commercial Tidal Current Power System Confirmed. Marine Current Turbines has today (June 6th 2007) confirmed that installation of its SeaGen commercial tidal energy system will commence during the week of August 20th in Northern Ireland's Strangford Lough. At 1.2MW capacity, SeaGen will be the world's largest ever tidal current device by a significant margin, and will generate clean and sustainable electricity for approximately 1000 homes. It is also a world first in being a prototype for commercial technology to be replicated on a large scale over the next few years. 8 Comments

The Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition (OREC) was founded in 2005 by Sean O'Neill (founder of Symmetrix) and Carolyn Elefant (Law Offices of Carolyn Elefant). The mission of OREC is the advancement and commercialization of offshore renewables, including offshore wind, ocean wave, OTEC and ocean and stream based tidal and current (hydrokinetic) technologies. In 2006 OREC lobbied for federal funding for offshore renewable projects and tax incentives to stimulate private investment. 1 Comment

BioPower Systems is developing a new ocean energy technology in Australia that will use bionics to mimic natural systems in order to produce energy. Both bioSTREAM and bioWAVE technologies use biomimicry, which refers to the adaptation of biological traits in engineered systems. BioPower Systems has copied many of the beneficial traits from natural systems in the development of the new ocean energy conversion systems. The company is researching this new technology for application. Laboratory testing will be completed in 2007, and full-scale ocean-based prototypes will be tested in 2008. Commercial units are expected to reach the market by the end of 2009. 1 Comment

Small tidal power companies are taking advantage of the rising interest in alternative energies. Large amounts of coastal waters are being reserved on both coasts of North America by small companies who plan to take advantage of ocean energy technologies, in the hopes that these sites will become profitable sources of electricity. Celeste Miller, spokeswoman for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, says that interest in tidal power technology began about two years ago. Her agency issues permits that give companies exclusive rights to study the tidal sites. Permit holders usually have first dibs on development licenses. No Comments

Mr. Sean O'Neill, President of Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition, on Renewable Ocean Energy: Tides, Currents, and Waves. Ocean Renewable Energy Coalition is a trade association founded to promote energy technologies from clean, renewable ocean resources. The coalition is working with industry leaders, academic scholars, and other interested NGO's to encourage ocean renewable technologies and raise awareness of their vast potential to help secure an affordable, reliable, environmentally friendly energy future. This is text of the Testimony before the Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources, Unites States House of Representatives. 3 Comments