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News Release from: Marine Current Turbines
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 29 June 2007
Commercial developments in tidal stream
turbines
Marine Current Turbines was set up to pioneer the technical and commercial development of tidal stream turbines, and commercial viability is now in sight
Marine Current Turbines works with the support of strategic partner companies and has received significant financial support from the UK government through the DTI, and from the European Commission The basic requirements for cost-effective power generation from tidal streams using MCT technology are a mean spring peak velocity exceeding about 2.25 to 2.5m/s (4.5 to 5 knots) with a depth of water of 20 to 30m - many locations spots around the UK and northern France meet these criteria
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 2 Jul 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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Our technology represents a novel method for generating electricity from the huge energy resource in the sea.
It is rare enough for an entirely new energy resource to be developed but even rarer if the technology, as in this case:.
* produces no pollution and has negligible environmental impact.
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* delivers energy to a predictable timetable.
* has the potential to make a major contribution to future energy needs.
Although the relentless energy of marine currents has been obvious from the earliest days of seafaring, it is only now that the development of modern offshore engineering capabilities coinciding with the need to find large new renewable energy resources makes this a technically feasible and economically viable possibility.
The rationale for developing this business is based on several robust arguments:.
* In the face of Climate Change and Peak Oil, the world urgently needs to acquire different energy resources with ability to deliver clean renewable energy in line with the Kyoto Protocol (most governments world-wide are committed to this) and Marine Current Turbines can deliver a major and uniquely new contribution to this need.
* The scope for meeting future energy requirements solely from land-based resources will be constrained by conflicts over land-use; so large renewable energy projects will need to move away from crowded land areas, preferably out to sea.
Fortunately, many potentially energetic marine current sites are not far from large electricity markets.
* Marine Current Turbines has a competitive lead in its field, together with the most efficient technology and uniquely practical methods for servicing it.
Commercial viability is in sight and MCT owns proprietary concepts which are patent protected and should give significant competitive advantage in addition to having "first mover" advantage.
* Environmental impact is becoming a key issue in gaining consents for energy projects; MCT technology is believed to have minimal environmental impact in that the physical footprint is very small, and rotor speeds are low enough to enable marine wild life to avoid being harmed by it.
In short we believe our technology meets a huge new need, and can deliver energy in future, as predictably as the tides that drive it and with minimal risk to the local environment.
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