SeaGen, a commercial scale tidal stream turbine, designed and developed by British tidal energy company, Marine Current Turbines (MCT), has for the first time generated at its maximum capacity of 1.2MW, according to MCT. According to the company, this is the highest power so far produced by a tidal stream system anywhere in the world and exceeds the previous highest output of 300kW produced in 2004 by Marine Current Turbines’ earlier SeaFlow system, off the north Devon coast.
SeaGen works in principle much like an “underwater windmill”, with the rotors driven by the power of the tidal currents rather than the wind. It was deployed in Northern Ireland’s Strangford Lough in May of this year and since then has undergone commissioning trials. As SeaGen has now reached full power it will move towards full-operating mode, for periods of up to 22 hours a day, with regular inspections and performance testing undertaken as part of the project’s development program. The testing program for SeaGen is being validated by the international marine classification society DNV.
The power generated by SeaGen is being purchased by Irish energy company, ESB Independent, for its customers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. SeaGen has the capacity to generate power to meet the average electricity needs of around 1000 homes.
“Generating at full power is an important milestone for the company, and in particular our in-house engineering team,” said Martin Wright, Managing Director of Marine Current Turbines. “It demonstrates, for the first time, the commercial potential of tidal energy as a viable alternative source of renewable energy.”
Drawing on its experience of Strangford Lough, Marine Current Turbines’ next project, announced in February 2008, is a joint initiative with npower renewables to take forward a 10.5MW project using seven SeaGen turbines off the coast of Anglesey, north Wales. It is hoped the tidal farm will be commissioned around 2011/2012.
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