Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
com
Contents
Executive Summary 2
Opportunity 3
Current Progress 4
A Year in Policy 8
Technology Table 24
The Future 31
Technology Index 32
Wave Energy 33
Aqumarine Power 34
AWS Ocean Energy Ltd 35
Fred Olsen 36
Ocean Power Technologies 37
Pelamis Wave Power 38
Voith Hydro Wavegen 39
Wello Oy 40
Wave Dragon Ltd 41
Tidal Energy 42
Alstom Hydro 44
Atlantis Resources Corporation 45
Hammerfest Strøm 46
Marine Current Turbines 47
Minesto 48
Pulse Tidal Ltd 49
Tidal Energy Ltd 50
Tidal Generation Ltd 51
TidalStream 52
VerdErg Renewable Energy Ltd 53
Voith Hydro Ocean Current Technologies 54
2
Executive Summary
Opportunity
Current Progress
As of March 2011, the UK has 3.4MW of Current UK Installed Capacity device, which is located at the EMEC wave
installed marine energy capacity site. The current lease for the Pulse Stream
(an almost 50% rise in the past year8) At the end of March 2011 the UK has an 100 is due for renewal in April 2011.
with a total of 7.4MW of prototypes installed capacity of 3.4MW of marine The Technology Index provides a
in advanced stages of planning and energy, consisting of 1.31 MW of wave concise review of twenty of the leading
fabrication for deployment in 2011, energy capacity and 2.05 MW of tidal wave and tidal energy technologies
representing a potential 100% increase. stream capacity. This is a 50% increase currently being developed in and around
from the 2.4MW installed in 2010. the UK.
Recent years have seen exciting
progress in the marine industry with Voith Hydro Wavegen’s LIMPET was
testing of full-scale prototype devices at the world’s first commercial-scale Planned Activity in 2011
sea and the installation of the first grid- grid-connected shoreline wave energy
connected wave energy and tidal stream device, installed in 2000, with a capacity A number of devices at varying stages of
devices. There is significant activity in of 0.25MW and now has over 70,000 development are planned for installation
the R&D of innovative technologies as operating hours. In 2009 Aquamarine in 2011. Atlantis Resource Corporation
well as some devices maturing to the Power installed Oyster 1, a 0.315MW has installed and grid-connected the
pre-commercial stage. near-shore wave device at EMEC. foundation for their 1MW AK1000,
EON installed the 0.75MW P2 device, which is due for reinstallation at EMEC
To obtain a comprehensive view of the fabricated by Pelamis Wave Power at in April 2011, having been removed in
anticipated and realistic delivery profile for EMEC in the summer of 2010. November 2010 due to blade damage.
the marine energy industry over the next
five to ten years, RenewableUK surveyed OpenHydro’s 0.25 MW Open-Centre Scottish Power Renewables has placed
the industry to ascertain developer Turbine is undergoing testing at the an order with Pelamis Wave Power and
appetite for project development. European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) construction is already underway on a
in Scotland and is the first tidal stream 0.75MW P2. Consent has already been
The contributors to this survey included: device to generate electricity to the granted to install the device next to the
Aquamarine Power, Pelamis Wave UK grid. Marine Current Turbines’ EON machine currently deployed at
Power, Ocean Power Technologies, (MCT) SeaGen (1.2 MW) is the world’s EMEC.
Wavegen, Pulse Tidal, Tidal Energy first commercial-scale tidal turbine to
Ltd, Marine Current Turbines, Voith, generate electricity and is reported to Aquamarine Power is fabricating the
Atlantis Resource Corporation, Tidal have produced in excess of 2,500MW/h 0.8MW Oyster 2 device and has already
Generation Ltd, Hammerfest Strøm, to the UK grid. Pulse Tidal deployed obtained planning consent to deploy the
OpenHydro, ScottishPowerRenewables, the Pulse Stream 100 tidal generator, device at EMEC in summer of 2011.
EON, Scottish and Southern Electricity, a shallow-water tidal stream device, in
MeyGen (Morgan Stanley, International the Humber Estuary near Immingham in Ocean Power Technologies has
Power and ARC), Vattenfall, RWE npower 2009. 2010 also saw Tidal Generation manufactured its PB150 at Invergordon
renewables Ltd and The Crown Estate. Ltd, the wholly owned subsidiary in Scotland and will conduct preliminary
of Rolls-Royce, install their 0.5MW proving trials at a temporary site in the
RenewableUK members noted that DeepGen device at EMEC. Moray Firth during the first half of 2011.
all the future development listed
within this section pre-supposes that 2009 was the first year in which marine Scotrenewables has fabricated a 250kW
the Government will provide suitable energy devices entered into their device at Harland and Wolff in Northern
financial support, without which decommissioning phase, when Marine Ireland, with plans afoot to deploy the
development will not occur. Current Turbines decommissioned device at EMEC in Orkney in 2011.
their 0.3MW proof-of-concept SeaFlow
device, which was located off the Devon The wave device developer Wello Oy is
coast. This activity continued into 2011, currently constructing a 500kW device,
with Aquamarine Power planning to with a berth secured at EMEC for its
decommission their 0.315MW Oyster 1 deployment planned for 2011.
MW Cumulative
generation that could be connected to 20
MW Annual
the UK grid. 40
30
10
Development by 2014 20
10
Figure 1. indicates that within the next
0 0
four years approximately 60MW of
Before 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
cumulative marine energy projects are
2008
being planned for deployment. The
data, obtained from our industry survey,
shows that this will be delivered through
the continued deployment of prototype Figure 2: Cumulative and Annual Marine Energy Consents Granted 2000 – 2010
devices over 2011 and 2012, combined
with 2-3 small arrays of less than 4MW.
1,400
2013 and 2014 are expected to bring a 6 12
70 1,300 United kingdom
significant increase in activity with the 1,200 Annual
deployment of 6-8 arrays at 60 a scale of
1,100 Cumulative
10
3–10MW; totalling an installed
50
capacity of 1,000
MW Cumulative
MW Cumulative
8
Annual
800
Plan
40
700
To provide a realistic view30of the 6
MW
600
MW
France
Portugal
Spain
Ireland
Finland
6
MW Cumulative
target of 1.3GW for marine energy. The
MW Annual
15
second scenario outlines The 6
Crown
10
Estate’s aggregated planned delivery
10
of the Pentland Firth and Orkney
4
Waters Round One sites, representing 5
a total installed capacity of2 1.6GW. 5
MW Annual
Challenges 5 100
008 have
2009successfully
2010tank-tested scale-
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
A Year in Policy
Marine energy is also a priority for development in the UK. The UK is a natural
Scottish Election place from which to develop marine energy and we are lucky to have such a
uniquely rich wave and tidal resource. We will be encouraging the development and
There will be a Scottish Parliamentary commercialisation of this industry over the coming decade. The world’s first full-scale
Election in May 2011, which could bring wave and tidal stream devices are British innovations, which show we have the skills
about a change to the current SNP and know-how to develop a new world-leading UK-based energy sector. We are
administration. Although all parties have currently considering in detail how creating a network of marine energy parks can
pledged their support for marine energy, work to push the sector forward. Each marine energy park will be unique and different;
we are awaiting the detail in the party building on the strengths of the region in which it is based.
manifestos.
National Renewable Energy Action Plan for the United Kingdom, DECC, 2010 14
12. The Government ‘green pledge’ has been extensively covered in the media, see for instance, www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/may/14/cameron-wants-
greenest-government-ever
13. HM Treasury Spending Review 2010, page 24
14. The National Renewable Energy Action Plan is available at www.decc.gov.uk
15. Ibid.
9
by 2020, plans to establish a Green support to help them through the early April 2010. However, the publication
Investment Bank following publication of stages, when they will not be cost- of the new Coalition Government’s
the Spending Review, and proposals to competitive with pre-existing mature Programme on 20 May 2010, confirmed
re-consult on National Policy Statements alternatives and the development of the the Government’s intentions to abolish
for major infrastructure. Specifically wave and tidal industry is likely to be no the IPC. Confirmation of this and other
Action 24 states that the Government different. Currently, devices do not have planning reforms have been announced
will support the development of marine the same amount of track record as their in the Decentralisation and Localism Bill.
energy in the UK. This is supported conventional counterparts and therefore
by text that states it will provide the continue to require some level of support Although any institution replacing the
opportunity for deployment of marine in order to become fully established; IPC (such as the Major Infrastructure
energy devices alongside onshore recent analysis from RenewableUK Unit [MIU]) will only deal with projects
infrastructure such as grid, industry and outlines that both wave and tidal over 100MW, the long-term success of
supply chain development, economic energy should receive 5 ROCs for initial marine energy development hinges on
regeneration, skills and academic projects, to ensure continued industry the confidence of the parties investing
excellence.16 development.20 in those projects. To inaugurate and
abolish a planning authority in the
same year does not give confidence
Renewables Obligation (RO) Planning Act that regulations are stable. On its part,
Banding Review RenewableUK is engaging closely with
The Planning Act passed into law in Government on these and other planning
A review of the RO level commenced in November 2008, enabling the creation reforms.
October 2010. This review will provide of a new, streamlined determination
a clear vision of the banding levels to process for major infrastructure projects
be put in place on April 1, 2013. DECC on and offshore. The implementation Marine and Coastal Access Act
initially planned to publish the results of the Act continued throughout 2009
of the review in 2012.17 However, this and 2010, with the creation of the Implementation of the Marine and
process has been brought forward, in Infrastructure Planning Commission Coastal Access Act continued from its
a bid to provide clarity and certainty to (IPC) and public consultation on draft publication in 2009 through the whole
investors on future banding levels and National Policy Statements (NPSs). of 2010 and is expected to influence
will now conclude by autumn 2011.18 marine planning and conservation for
This re-evaluation of the level of revenue In January 2010 and after the public at least the next decade. The Marine
support that marine energy receives has consultation process, RenewableUK Management Organisation (MMO)
the potential to fundamentally change the gave written and oral evidence to the was also vested, officially launching
amount of marine energy built in the UK Energy and Climate Change Select on the 1st April 2010 and taking on a
over the next decade and subsequently Committee working on the NPSs. wide range of powers including marine
secure, or squander, the current global Following the General Election, these consenting, licensing, monitoring and
market lead. The Northern Ireland important statements of government enforcement. The MMO will also lead on
Department for Enterprise Trade and energy and infrastructure policy will now marine planning with the East of England
Investment is currently holding a separate go through further public consultation inshore and offshore areas taken forward
consultation, in which it suggests a and parliamentary scrutiny with formal first. The new marine licence will also
banding of four ROCs for tidal energy.19 adoption expected in late 2011. come into force in April 2011 combining
the current FEPA and CPA licences.
The development of all new energy The Infrastructure Planning Commission
generation technologies has required (IPC) was formally inaugurated in
16. The details of the Annual Energy Statement can be found on www.decc.gov.uk
17. The details of the RO Banding Review can be found on www.decc.gov.uk
18. Ibid.
19. For details of the Northern Ireland RO Banding Consultation see www.detini.gov.uk
20. RenewableUK, Channelling the Energy, 2010
10
Green Economy and Energy Security Bill carbon technologies including renewable Infrastructure, and Environment and
energy. As “the largest shake-up of the consenting) were established in October
The Green Economy and Energy electricity market since privatisation” 2009 DECC’s aim for the Action Plan
Security Bill entered Parliament in these policy changes have the potential was to set out the main challenges
December 2010.21 One of the potential to dramatically alter the way the UK’s that need to be addressed in taking
developments of this Bill could be the low-carbon economy is delivered. wave and tidal technologies through to
creation of a Green Investment Bank. Maintaining the confidence of investors mainstream deployment in the coming
This body could support research in current projects is crucial to ensuring decades up to 2030, and the actions
and development as a grant-giving the smooth delivery of any changes. that would need to be taken by both
organisation and could support or invest government and the private sector to
directly in projects to leverage more make this a reality.
private funds into green initiatives. Wide-ranging Changes to the
Regulation of the Electrical Grid The intention was that the Action Plan
would be a realistic, practical and
Strategic Environmental Assessments In the summer of 2010 numerous pragmatic document backed by both
reviews and consultations were initiated the Government and the private sector.
Two Strategic Environmental to change the way in which new grid The Marine Action Plan Executive
Assessments (SEAs) were started or infrastructure is regulated. The collective Summary was launched on the 9th of
completed in the 12 months to March scope of these different consultations March 2010.24 This report supplemented
2011. In March 2010 the Government ranged across almost all parts of the “The Next Steps for Marine Energy”,
launched an SEA for offshore grid system. Proposed changes include published by RenewableUK.25
energy, which would for the first time revisions to the Ofgem remit, changing
assess the environmental and socio- the charges levied on generators to pay
economic impacts of all marine energy for their grid connection, the introduction Marine Energy Road Map
technologies for English and Welsh of a new regulatory system for offshore
waters and the Continental Shelf. Once grid connections, changes to the way In January 2009, the Forum for
complete, this work should inform the generators gain access to the national Renewable Energy Development in
policies needed to allow wave and tidal grid and a review of the financial Scotland (FREDS) reconvened its
energy projects in England and Wales. commitments required to establish a grid industry-led Marine Energy Group
During 2009 and 2010, the Northern connection. All these changes create the (MEG) and a final report was produced
Ireland Assembly assessed the potential perfect opportunity to review the entire in September 2009.26 The group,
for marine renewable energy in the grid system and ensure it is suitable which consists of both industry and
waters off Northern Ireland. for 21st-century generation and the government, recommended that Scottish
decarbonisation of the power sector. Government provides additional capital
grant funding to the sector and level
Electricity Market Reform ROC banding for both wave and tidal
Marine Energy Action Plan energy devices. The MEG subgroups
A process of Electricity Market Reform continue to meet on an ad hoc basis to
was initiated in the autumn of 2010.22 DECC announced the Marine Action deliver the recommendations outlined in
This review seeks to examine the price Plan (MAP) in the Renewable Energy the report.
of carbon and the need for capacity Strategy,23 as a document that would
payments, consider the implementation be produced by both Government
of emission performance standards and and industry. The four work streams
review the support mechanism for low- (Finance, Technology road map,
59°20'0"N
Brough Head Base Map
SSE Renewables Holdings (UK) Limited
59°20'0"N
Marwick Head ScottishPower Renewables UK Limited Strategic Area
West Orkney Middle SSE Renewables United Kingdom
E.ON Climate & Renewables UK Limited Developments (UK) Ltd
South
Costa Head SSE Renewables
West Orkney South E.ON Climate & Renewables UK Limited 200 MW Developments (UK) Ltd
Westray South
SSE Renewables Holdings (UK) Limited & 200 MW
Cantick Head
OpenHydro Site Development Limited
Brough Ness Marine Current Turbines Limited
ScottishPower
Atlantis Resources Corporation Pte Limited,
Renewables UK Ltd
International Power Marine Developments Marwick Head
Inner Sound Brough Head
Limited, Morgan Stanley Capital Group 50 MW Wave Farm Ltd
Incorporated E.ON Climate & Renewables Brough Head
UK developments Ltd 200 MW
Ness of Duncansby ScottishPower Renewables UK Limited
West Orkney Middle South
50 MW
Farr Point Pelamis Wave Power Limited
59°0'0"N
* Tenant names are labelled on the map 0 10 20
59°0'0"N
km
E.ON Climate & Renewables
UK developments Ltd
West Orkney South
50 MW
MaRS-Ref
18 Oct 2010
Author : DF
QA : JM
SeaGeneration Size: A4
(Brough Ness) Ltd
Cantick Head 1:580,000
Brough Ness
30. The map of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Round 1 Development Sites is available from www.thecrownestate.co.uk
Tidal Development Ltd 100 MW Positions shown relative to WGS 84.
Cantick Head © Crown Copyright 18 October 2010.
200 MW Reproduction in whole or part is not permitted without prior consent of
The Crown Estate.
58°40'0"N
Solutions Limited. All rights reserved. Product Licence No. 012009.017.
Ocean Power
58°40'0"N
Delivery Ltd
Farr Point MeyGen Ltd 16 New Burlington Place 6 Bell's Brae
London W1S 2HX Edinburgh EH4 3BJ
50 MW Inner Sound Tel: 020 7851 5080 Tel: 0131 260 6070
ScottishPower
400 MW www.thecrownestate.co.uk
Renewables UK Ltd
Ness of Duncansby
100 MW
S:\MARINE\Restricted\MaRS\GIS\TCE_Work\Pentland_Firth\Confidential\MXD\Final_Bidders_Info_Oct10_ForWebsite.mxd
30
Figure 6: Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters project map
13
14
The Northern Ireland Strategic The establishment of a UK-wide Marine Key information regarding the
Environmental Assessment (SEA) has and Coastal Access Act and Scottish environmental impact of marine energy
highlighted that 300MW of tidal energy Marine Act in 2010 has significantly devices is still largely unknown. This
could be developed across five tidal streamlined the licensing application has resulted in the statutory nature
energy zones.32 The Northern Ireland process for marine energy across the conservation agencies (Natural England,
Department of Enterprise, Trade and UK. As of the first of April 2011, Marine Joint Nature Conservation Council,
Investment has acted upon one of the Scotland will deal with all licensing Countryside Council for Wales and
key recommendations of the SEA and applications in Scottish waters inshore most notably Scottish Natural Heritage),
formed an Offshore Renewable Energy and offshore areas via the revised marine developing new protocols and guide-
Forum, to steer this process. Another licence, whereas in England and Wales, lines to fast-track the deployment of
key action proposed by the SEA was the Marine Management Organisation initial devices.34
to initiate a leasing round for tidal and deals with project applications under
offshore wind energy. This is expected 100MW and the Infrastructure Planning
to be open before the end of 2011. Commission (shortly to be replaced by
the Major Infrastructure Planning Unit
In England and Wales the SEA launched deals with all applications over 100MW.
in March 2010 is expected to deliver
a final decision before summer 2011. In Northern Ireland, licences are
There are numerous sites across currently administered by two devolved
England and Wales that could support departments (the Department of
wave and tidal project development, Enterprise, Trade and Investment and
as can be seen in the offshore energy the Department of the Environment) and
atlas.33 the Department of Energy and Climate
Change. The new licensing processes
should encourage maximum pre-
consultation and engagement between
licensing bodies, stakeholders and
developers, to minimise the decision-
making time.
Figure 7: Areas in which the Crown Estate are expecting applications for lease in the further Scottish leasing round31
16
The UK has a world-leading academic Academic Consortia improve modelling, and the Dynamic
research base. Combined with a suite Marine Component Test Facility (DMaC),
of complementary testing sites, the The SuperGen Marine Research which is a specially developed facility to
UK offers a coherent approach to Programme, funded by the Engineering undertake “service testing”, type loading
technology innovation. and Physical Sciences Research on marine components.
Council (EPSRC) commenced in 2003.
The UK is a world leader in the R&D The overall aim of the programme is The Low Carbon Research Institute
of wave and tidal stream energy with to complete generic research on the Marine Project is a £7 million three-
research carried out at a number of potential for future exploitation of the year programme that aims to enable,
academic institutes and facilities, marine energy resource. The second support and help build a sustainable
which provide support to technology phase SuperGen Marine Research marine energy sector in Wales. It will
developers in testing their devices in Consortium, a four year £5.5 million provide the independent and world
tanks and at sea. project which commenced in October class research essential to move the
2007, includes five core academic industry forward from pre-commercial
The marine environment can be very institutions – the University of Edinburgh, demonstration projects to small and
harsh, particularly in locations of Heriot Watt University, Lancaster full-scale generation of electricity from
high wave and tidal stream energy University, Queens University Belfast the marine environment. The project
potential. The test centres available and the University of Strathclyde – along consortium consists of Swansea, Cardiff,
in the UK provide assistance in with a number of affiliate institutions. The Bangor, Aberystwyth and Pembrokeshire
deploying the prototype test devices current phase of the programme aims to universities.
and can be used to gain experience increase knowledge and understanding
of installation, operation, maintenance of device–sea interactions of energy
and decommissioning activities. The converters from model scale in the
test centres provide the infrastructure laboratory to full size in the open sea.
required for monitoring the operation of
the devices in the marine environment, The Peninsula Research Institute for
providing valuable information for Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE)
future development of the devices. This is a response from the Universities of
information is required not only for the Exeter and Plymouth to the challenges
technical and engineering development facing businesses involved in marine
of the devices, but also to model the renewable energy and in support of
financial viability of the devices by Wave Hub. The institute received a
determining capital and operation and further boost from the South West
maintenance costs. Regional Development Agency in the
form of a £1.2 million investment in
a new wave tank testing facility. The
facility will be unique in the UK because
it will allow model testing in both
multi-directional waves and variable
direction currents, and will also be
able to model shallow and deep-water
conditions. It will enable the testing of
scale models of wave and tidal energy
devices individually and in arrays. Other
initiatives that PRIMaRe are developing
include the South Western Mooring
Test Facility (SWMFT), to understand
mooring line dynamic response and
17
Wave Hub construction of a new dedicated UK’s current lead in the marine energy,
marine building on the University research and device development, as
Wave Hub is a grid-connected offshore of Plymouth’s campus, in order to well as the scale of the global market,
facility in south-west England for the stimulate innovation and enterprise and there are considerable opportunites for
large-scale testing of technologies that transform the way research is turned into broadening the UK supply chain and
generate electricity from the power commercial success; and development attracting inward investment to
of the waves. It leases space to wave of a marine renewables business park the sector. If the creation of an offshore
energy device developers and exists adjacent to the Wave Hub sub station renewable energy TIC, covering offshore
to support the development of marine in Hayle, Cornwall. In addition to this wind, wave and tidal energy were to be
renewable energy around the world. £7.3 million invested in PRIMaRE has proposed, the coordinating function and
With four berths able to connect up to enabled unique mooring and dynamic approach to research and development
5MW each, Wave Hub has the potential component testing facilities to be would offer a clear and consistent route
to connect 20MW of wave energy. This established in Cornwall and the UK’s to commercialisation for emerging
could be increased to 50MW in due most advanced wave tank is being built technologies and cost-reduction
course. in Plymouth. innovation to secure future economic
benefits.
In May 2010 construction of the sub-
station was completed and the cable Future Developments
was energised in November 2010,
effectively marking Wave Hub open for Future testing sites proposed across
business. Key contractors included JP the UK include two tidal sites that are
Kenny, Dean & Dyball and JDR Cables. currently undergoing scoping. The
Solent Ocean Energy Centre, being
Customers coming to Wave Hub need to supported by Envirobis, has sought
apply for their own FEPA licences. Wave funding from the Regional Growth Fund,
Hub plans to manage a co-ordinated allocated by BIS.35 Invest Northern
programme of on-going environmental Ireland are also in the preliminary stages
monitoring in partnership with its of scoping the potential to develop a full-
customers. scale tidal test site.36
Lack of availability of grid capacity for Left with the current transmission regime Transmission Charging
marine energy provides a fundamental in place, marine renewable projects are
barrier to the development of the most likely to suffer substantial delays, The current transmission-charging
industry. Connection to the Shetland, to the extent that manufacturers may regime, which levies high charges
Orkney and Western Isles is a have to relocate to other markets, or rely on those projects furthest from the
priority for the industry. Revision to on infrastructure upgrades being driven market, has been identified as a major
the charging regimes provides the by the wind sector. In the instance of impediment to the growth of renewable
opportunity to encourage further new infrastructure being delivered for projects in the remote locations of the
development. wind projects the current investment Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland.
mechanisms will lead to “missed It should also be noted that, in the
In common with offshore wind, and opportunities” for the marine sector consideration of marine renewables,
to some extent onshore wind, the as there are little or no allowances for a locational charging mechanism
areas of most abundant resource for new infrastructure to include levels of simply increases the barrier to entry for
marine energy tend to be remote from additional capacity that could provide investors.
onshore distribution and transmission an invaluable route to market for the
networks or in areas of limited network marine sector to demonstrate commercial High charges have prevented developers
capacity. Due to the specific locational viability. committing to underwrite the cost of
characteristics of wave and tidal energy transmission upgrades. It is hoped that
the sector is unavoidably acutely EMEC and Wave Hub are very beneficial Ofgem’s project Transmit will offer a
exposed to the very extremes of the to the industry, as they provide existing solution that will enable these upgrades
current UK grid challenges. This leads grid connections that allow developers to be commissioned by 2015.
to high demand for a limited number of to test the operation of their devices
grid connections in certain locations. when connected to the grid, avoiding
the need to apply for and construct
Current transmission infrastructure at new grid connections. However, it is
the peripheries of the network is, by recognised that the marine industry
and large, not fit for the purpose of must demonstrate and build large-scale
accepting new generation projects, even projects and apply for grid connections
at very modest scale. New transmission in order to trigger the significant
infrastructure will require unprecedented upgrades required to the transmission
levels of financial commitment from network. To date it is thought that only
marine project investors, who are three companies have applied for a
in parallel exposed to a substantial grid connection on Orkney to stimulate
technology risk. As outlined in the Path the transmission upgrades needed. As
to Power,38 grid connection presents a stated, high charging regimes and limited
major hurdle for development in both access to development finance are
Northern Scotland and the Western recognised as barriers preventing further
Isles, as the Orkney Isles in particular are applications. In addition to this, delays in
likely to be the first area in the UK to see planned upgrades (e.g. Beauley-Denny)
the development of large-scale marine could have major ramifications for the
energy projects.39 delivery of marine energy projects.
Connecting the Orkney Isles40 The first phase of these developments charges as a result of project TransmiT
has, to date, always been seen as which will enable developers to commit
In the short term small capacities on the installation of 132kV AC cable to underwriting the cost of the upgrade.
Orkney could be connected to the grid connections, that would enable the
through innovative practices such as export of up to 180MW. SHETL’s plans
active management, which gives the rely upon having a clear view of how Shetland
potential for generation to be switched the industry will develop in the coming
off during extreme generation peaks years, dependent upon it receiving Shetland, whilst representing one of the
or troughs in demand. This would applications for grid connection from richest regions for marine renewables
allow more generation devices to developers. in the UK, also represents the most
be connected to the grid and would constrained part of the UK grid network
improve the efficiency of grid use. as the islands have no level of grid
Previous investigations for the Orkney 2016–2020 connection to the UK mainland. The
Active Management Scheme estimated costs associated with grid-connecting
that perhaps 50 MW of additional After 2016 it is anticipated that Orkney Shetland are at a level that excludes
capacity could be freed up. should be entering the phase of major marine renewable projects, and access
commercial roll-out of wave and tidal to this prime resource is currently wholly
A recent report published by Orkney capacity. The recommendation from reliant on the potential commitment from
Island Council and the Orkney Orkney Islands Council and Orkney onshore wind investors. The delivery of
Renewable Energy Forum states that Renewable Energy Forum is that a grid connection to meet wind project
the present active management scheme gigawatt scale connections will be demand will provide a clear opportunity for
has been capped at only 15MW and required and most likely lead to HVDC- additional capacity for the marine sector
suggests that an urgent review is type cables being considered. SHETL to be included at limited incremental
required of how much of the remaining has indicated that it is looking at an costs. To miss such an opportunity will
35MW could be used and when. HVDC solution of up to 600MW to West simply prolong the sectors lack of access
However, this does not address the Mainland of Orkney and a 300-400MW to market and endanger the long-term
fact that there is no capacity for new HVDC solution to South Ronaldsay. health of the sector.
developers as the current capacity has
been reached by existing schemes at
present. Connecting the Western Isles
40. Orkney Islands Council and Orkney Renewable Energy Forum, Committing to Connection, June 2010
21
1st & Next Generation Prototype 1st Wave/Tidal Farms 2nd Farms and Beyond
1. First and Next Generation Prototype 2. First Wave and Tidal Farms TRL 8–9: 3. Second Farms and Beyond TRL 8–9:
TRL 1–7: up to 1MW from 2MW to 10MW over 10MW
41. See for instance: Carbon Trust, Focus for success – A new approach to commercialising low carbon technologies; The Climate Change Commission, Building a Low Carbon
Economy – The UK’s innovation Challenge; Bain and Company, Employment Opportunities and Challenges in the Context of Rapid Industry Growth.
42. Energy technology Institute and UK Energy Research Centre, Marine Energy Technology Roadmap, 2010
43. Details of Technology Readiness Levels criteria available at http://esto.nasa.gov/files/TRL_definitions.pdf
22
Stage 1: First and Next Generation Stage 2: First Wave and Tidal
Prototypes up to 1MW (TRL 1-7) Farms from 2MW to 10MW (TRL 8-9)
Capital support is vital to the industry today When marine energy devices become
and devices require continued support ready for deployment in small arrays,
through the research and development revenue incentives play an important
(R&D) stage. The primary gap today exists part in making the projects economically
when devices are ready for open ocean viable. However, electricity production
deployment. It is, at this point that capital from the first wave and tidal farms
needs rise rapidly. Device developers are will be unpredictable, making revenue
generally small and medium enterprises incentives alone insufficient. For these
(SMEs) that do not have the readily first steps, upfront capital grant is
available, the finance to fund such projects, also required to reduce the amount of
and the initial risk exposure is too high for capital at risk. Under this scenario, a
utilities to commit investment, or for any marine energy project starts to become
manufacturer to underwrite performance. attractive to utilities. However, to
Hence, capital support from government secure investment from utilities, device
is required to de-risk investment in offerings have to be on a par with
technology development and stimulate alternative options. In particular, device
the private sector backing. manufacturers have to be able to offer
potential utility investors (a) sufficient
RenewableUK believes that Stage 1 of operating experience to offer guarantees
industry development can be split into in performance and reliability and (b)
three specific phases for technology involvement of major manufacturers
development that can be related to NASA able to underpin these guarantees both
TRLs as follows: technically and financially.
44. Carbon Trust, Future Marine Energy, Results of the Marine Energy Challenge: Cost Competitiveness and Growth of Wave and Tidal Stream Energy, January 2006
24
As of March 2011 there are 28 publicly in March 2010 aimed to support the The £22 million Marine Renewables
funded projects being undertaken development and demonstration of wave Proving Fund (MRPF), announced by
across the UK with contributions from and tidal stream energy technologies. the Government in the Renewable
32 companies. The largest proportion The call received 35 applications and Energy Strategy45 is administered by
of private sector activity has come from 9 awards were made. The call aimed the Carbon Trust and was launched in
technology developers, academia and to address issues of driving down the September 2009. As part of the low-
notably the supply chain. The average cost of energy, while improving the carbon economic stimulus package the
grant support per project has been £1.95 reliability and performance of devices. six projects awarded financing (Pelamis,
million with a total of £54.6 million of The competition consisted of two Marine Current Turbines, Aquamarine
public investment. strands: to enhance the performance Power, Atlantis, Voith and HSUK) must
of existing devices and to progress be completed by March 2011.
Figure 9. provides an overview of novel concept devices. The second call
funding sources, the private partners launched in September 2010, aimed to The South West Regional Development
engaged, brief project description, public aid research and development focussing Agency also provided a £1.5 million
funds awarded and where possible the on supporting and underpinning the grant to Ocean Power Technologies
private funding the project has secured. deployment of pre-commercial and full to accelerate the deployment of their
scale devices installed and operating in PB500 at Wave Hub.
The Wave And Tidal Energy Research, the sea, provided 3 awards totalling £2.5
Development and Demonstration million.
Support fund (WATERS) was launched
in 2010 to help develop emerging energy The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI)
technologies to improve the operation is a UK-based public-private partnership
of marine renewables devices. The formed by global industries and the UK
WATERS fund was a collaboration Government. It is tasked with developing
between the Scottish Government, and demonstrating engineering and
Scottish Enterprise and also Highlands technology that will help the UK meet its
and Islands Enterprise. The programme legally binding 2050 carbon reduction
is part financed through European targets under the Climate Change Act.
Regional Development Funds (ERDF). To date the ETI has supported 3 marine
energy projects at a total public cost of
The Technology Strategy Board invested £10.75 million.
£9.5 million in innovative collaborative
research through two calls. The first call
Supply Chain The Council’s report highlights the fact Security of Supply
that to maximise the benefits for UK
The economic benefits and potential businesses, the core need is to provide Security of electricity supply is of
job creation generated by the growth of a clear, long-term policy framework concern to the UK and devolved
the marine industry would be beneficial within which British companies can governments as domestic fossil fuel
to the UK to counteract the effects of invest in renewables. Firstly, through reserves are depleted and the UK
the steady decline of the oil and gas the diversification of the design and becomes increasingly dependent
industry. The production of oil and gas manufacturing industries into the on imports. Energy diversity and the
from the UK offshore areas is in decline provision of devices; secondly, through substantial indigenous renewable
as reserves are progressively exhausted. the design, manufacture and support energy sources in the UK are useful
The UK is a net importer of oil and of the vessels required to install and ways of maintaining energy security.
gas and importing energy supplies will service the offshore systems; and finally, Renewable energy is not as acutely
continue to have a large effect on the the marine-based service industries that subject to the price volatility experienced
balance of payment.52 It has already will be created around the coastline.54 from fossil fuels. A recent study
been noted that the skills and expertise for RenewableUK concluded that
developed in the oil and gas industry Another initiative to drive the transfer diversifying the renewable energy mix by
could be applicable to the emerging of information between industries has including a greater proportion of wave
wave and tidal industry. The same can seen the Technology Stratergy Board and tidal stream energy would reduce
also be said of the developing offshore establish a number of Knowledge requirements for back-up and reserve
wind industry. Transfer Networks, one of which is capacity, lower carbon emissions and
focused on wave and tidal energy. save fuel.56 This could lead to cost
Of specific note is that marine trade The aim of this Energy Generation savings of as much as £900 million per
associations, including RenewableUK, and Supply Knowledge Transfer annum, equal to 3.3% of the annual
and BIS have formed the Marine Network (EG&S KTN) is to accelerate wholesale cost of electricity.
Industries Leadership Council, to build the technical development of selected
a collaborative, strategic approach to technologies by encouraging and
securing the future of the UK maritime enabling the sharing of knowledge and
industry.53 In their recently produced UK information across all EG&S industries,
Marine Industries Strategic Framework, especially between different sectors
marine energy is recognised as a sector such as device developers, academia
with significant opportunities over and suppliers.55
the next two decades and beyond,
as countries look to exploit their
offshore renewable resources to help
tackle climate change and support
future energy security. The report
states that the sector offers business
opportunities for many aspects of the
marine industries, including the transfer
of technology and knowledge from the
UK’s existing shipbuilding and oil and
gas businesses.
52. David Pugh on behalf of The Crown Estate, Socio-economic Indicators of Marine-related Activities in the UK Economy, March 2008
53. For details of the Leadership Council see www.bis.gov.uk
54. For the marine industries strategic framework see www.bis.gov.uk
55. For the aim of the Energy Generation and Supply Knowledge Transfer Network see https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/wave-and-tidal
56. Redpoint Energy Limited for RenewableUK, 2009, The Benefits of Marine Technologies within a Diversified Renewables Mix
30 70
Annual
60
Cumulative
50
30
MW Cumulative
20
MW Annual
40
30
10
10
0 0
Before 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
2008
700
arc (UK, Ireland, France, Spain and
600
Portugal) Figure 11. depicts the 500
targets that these member states have 400
France
highlighted in their respective National 300
Portugal
Renewable Energy Action Plans. The 200
Spain
100
total member state ambitions equate to Ireland
0 Finland
1.95GW.57
2005 2010 2015 2020
In recognition of the widespread interest
in developing the wave and tidal energy
industry across Europe, the European In the Seventh Framework Programme
Commission has provided a total of (FP7) the commission has invested a
€58.3 million over the past nine years to total of €41 million in the past four years,
develop the industry. €20 million for four demos (three wave
and one tidal) and €21 million on “Soft
Between 2002 and 2006 €17.3 million Actions”.
of support was provided to nine wave
power demonstration projects, ranging There is also other activity around the
in size from €0.8 million to €2.4 million world, notably in the USA which has
per project. However, due to unrealistic started to realign its energy priorities
cost expectations, six projects were since the establishment of a new
withdrawn or were unsuccessful as administration and is in the process of
a result of delays, consents, ability developing a long-term holistic support
to attract matched funding or due to plan for marine energy.59 A recent
budget over-runs. Only two projects review of the sector also outlines that
were completed as planned (Buldra 2007 many other countries including Canada
and Wavegen 2010) and one project and Korea are in the advanced stages
was partially installed (WaveStar 2009). of developing full-scale test sites,
favourable political conditions and
market support environments.60
The Future
Technology Index
Disclaimer – This document does not represent official endorsement of the technology listed within it. The information contained has been provided directly by technology
developers and has not undergone any third party verification of installed or rated capacity, except where explicitly stated. RenewableUK and EMEC therefore takes no
responsibility for the validity for any of the figures of information within this document.
61. This is based on consultation with RenewableUK members, the Occupational Health Advisors Group (OHAG) and key stakeholders including the HSEz
33
Wave Energy
Ocean waves are created by the interaction of wind with the surface of the sea. The
size of the waves is determined by the wind (speed, period and fetch), bathymetry
of the seafloor (which can focus or disperse the energy of the waves) and currents.
Waves have the potential to provide a completely sustainable source of energy which
can be captured and converted into electricity by wave energy converter (WEC)
machines. These WEC’s have been developed to extract energy from the shoreline to
the deeper waters offshore.
A – Attenuator
An attenuator is a floating device which works parallel to the wave direction
and effectively rides the waves. Movements along its length can be selectively
constrained to produce energy. It has a lower area parallel to the waves in
comparison to a terminator, so the device experiences lower forces.
B – Point Absorber
A point absorber is a floating structure which absorbs energy in all directions through
its movements at/near the water surface. The power take-off system may take a
number of forms, depending on the configuration of displacers/reactors.
E – Overtopping device
This type of device relies on physical capture of water from waves which is held in a
reservoir above sea level, before being returned to the sea through conventional low-
head turbines which generates power. An overtopping device may use collectors to
concentrate the wave energy.
G – Other
This covers those devices with a unique and very different design to the more well-
established types of technology or if information on the device’s characteristics could
not be determined. For example the Wave Rotor, is a form of turbine turned directly
by the waves. Flexible structures have also been suggested, whereby a structure that
changes shape/volume is part of the power take-off system.
34
Aquamarine Power
The Oyster wave power device is a Edinburgh-based Aquamarine Power Aquamarine Power is now developing
buoyant, hinged flap which is attached was established in 2005 to develop the next generation Oyster 2 and will
to the seabed at around ten metres the Oyster hydro-electric wave energy install a single Oyster 2 device this
depth, around half a kilometre from converter. The first full-scale 315kW summer with a further two devices to
shore. This hinged flap, which is almost Oyster was officially launched by be deployed in 2012. Together the three
entirely underwater, sways backwards Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond Oyster 2 devices will form a 2.4MW
and forwards in the nearshore waves. at the European Marine Energy Centre array connected to a single onshore
The movement of the flap drives two (EMEC) in Orkney in November 2009. generating plant.
hydraulic pistons which push high Oyster 1 has delivered over 6000
pressure water onshore to drive a operating hours. In 2009, in a ground-breaking
conventional hydro-electric turbine. In development for the marine energy
essence, the Oyster wave power device sector, Aquamarine Power signed a
is simply a large pump that provides joint venture partnership agreement
the power source for a conventional with SSE Renewables to co-develop
onshore hydro-electric power plant. All up to 1GW of marine energy sites using
of the complex electronics are onshore, Oyster technology. In March 2010 the
and there are only seven moving parts joint venture partnership was awarded
offshore – a hinge, two hydraulic pumps exclusive rights by The Crown Estate to
that pump the high pressure water to the develop the first 200MW Oyster wave
shoreline and four valves. farm. In November 2010, the company
announced £11 million new investment
in the company, including £8million from
international power conglomerate ABB.
35
Wave peaks displace air from a series AWS Ocean Energy Ltd was formed With the support of funding from both
of chambers around the periphery of a in 2004 to develop the Waveswing, a the WATERS and TSB schemes, and in
circular floating device. The air moves technology which had already been conjunction with Strathclyde University,
from high pressure to chambers at lower deployed and grid-connected in Portugal AWS are undertaking various projects
pressure adjacent to wave troughs, via a in 2004. aimed at removing risk and paving the
ring main. Each chamber is connected to way towards ocean deployment of a full-
the ring main via a turbine which powers In 2008, they took a strategic decision scale device, in conjunction with industry
a generator. Each chamber is faced with to pursue a technology evolved much majors.
an air-water interface, in the form of a more closely in line with customer
flexible diaphragm. requirements, in terms of large scale;
high reliability; easy operability and
As it is a stable, floating platform, the maintainability; and a low cost of energy.
device is easily maintained and because The AWS-III evolved out of that process,
cells operate in parallel, it has a great and was tested at scale during 2010.
deal of inbuilt redundancy, which affords
high availability.
Fred Olsen
BOLT is a circular, near shore, moored, The foundation of the present day Version 2 of BOLT, rated at 100kw, is
floating point absorber designed businesses was laid in the middle of due to be installed at the Wave Hub in
to be installed in arrays. The unit is the 19th century when 3 Olsen brothers the near future.
manufactured in composite and steel. of Hvitsten in Norway took advantage
Its current electricity conversion system of an expansion in shipping following
is electro-hydraulic; with automatic tidal the Crimean War. By 1875 they had 22
variation compensation. Each unit may sailing ships and 40 by 1886. In 1896,
be autonomous, or remotely operated. the first steam ship was built, with a
view to building a network of shipping
services, firstly in the North Sea and
then further afield. Four generations
later, the Fred Olsen family continues to
operate companies in the renewables,
transportation, leisure and energy
service industries.
37
PowerBuoys are a point absorber Ocean Power Technologies was The PB 150-B1 demonstration device
type Wave Energy Converter (WEC), started in 1994 and has been building will be deployed during 2011 in UK
meaning the wave capture element is and testing wave energy devices in waters. OPT will continue with the
small in comparison to the wavelength the ocean since 1997. A PowerBuoy detailed design of its next generation
of incident waves. Its power capture deployed at the US Marine base in PowerBuoy (PB500), which is currently
and conversion is not sensitive to the Hawaii in December 2009 is grid being supported by a SWRDA grant,
direction of the incident waves. connected and has successfully with the aim of accelerating the
completed over 3 million duty cycles in deployment of a demonstration device in
PowerBuoys are constructed as two the ocean. the South West.
main hull elements, the spar and the
float, each designed to respond to The PB150-B1 – for deployment in
wave forces in fundamentally different the UK – was recently independently
ways. The spar is designed to remain certified by Lloyds Register, a first for the
as stationary as possible whilst the float wave energy market. The certification
behaves oppositely, responding actively covered the design of the PowerBuoy’s
and dynamically to wave forces. The structure and mooring system.
difference in motion between the two
hulls is captured as mechanical energy
and transferred to electrical generators.
OPT’s proprietary AIMS control system
tunes the response of the system to
maximise power capture from each wave.
38
The Pelamis is a semi-submerged, The Company was founded in 1998 by PWP is developing Farr Point Wave
articulated machine made up of five Dr Richard Yemm, Dr Dave Pizer and Dr Farm under the Pentland Firth and
tube sections linked by hinged joints. Chris Retzler with the aim of developing Orkney Waters Leasing Round. A grid
Floating on the sea surface in coming the Pelamis Wave Energy Converter. connection has been secured for an
waves, causes the tube sections to Since then the company has raised over initial, sub-10MW installation and in
move relative to one another, stimulating £45 million from financial and industry March 2010, PWP were successful in
bending movements at the joints of the backers and has been successful in securing a seabed lease option from
machines. This movement is resisted bringing Pelamis technology to the The Crown Estate. A smaller first phase
by hydraulic arms that pump fluid into commercial marketplace. The company is planned to be deployed in 2014/15.
high pressure accumulators allowing now employs over 65 people and has its However, the lease option awarded
electricity generation to be smooth and headquarters in Edinburgh. would allow the Farr Point Wave Farm
continuous. All generation systems are to ultimately be expanded to 50MW,
housed inside the machines and power PWP is currently under contract with contingent on successful grid and
is transmitted to shore using standard EON to test the Pelamis P2 at the environmental consent awards.
subsea cables and equipment. Several European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC)
machines can be connected together in demonstrating the next generation,
and linked to shore through a single P2, Pelamis machine. Continuing the
subsea cable. presence of Pelamis technology at
EMEC, ScottishPower Renewables
has ordered a second P2 machine for
demonstration and test to be deployed
in 2011. The project will utilise the
existing electrical subsea cables,
substation and grid connection.
39
The OWC comprises a chamber with Established in 1990, Wavegen is Wavegen is working with RWE npower
an opening below the water. External based in Inverness, in the Highlands of renewables to deliver the 4MW Siadar
wave action causes the water level in the Scotland. In 2000 Wavegen became the project. This project (consented in
OWC to oscillate up and down. The rise first company to connect a commercial 2009) is located on the Western Isles of
and fall of the water level in the chamber scale wave energy plant to the grid. Scotland and will be the first large-scale
compresses and decompresses the Equipment availability has grown commercial wave energy project in the
air above. Air is allowed to exit and steadily in recent years, with availability world, demonstrating the commercial
enter the chamber via a Wells turbine- above 90% since 2007, and exceeding viability of wave energy.
generator which is used to convert the 98% in 2010. Wavegen is unique in
pneumatic power into electricity. Due offering performance and availability
to the symmetrical cross-section of the guarantees to existing and future clients.
aerofoil the turbine is driven in the same
direction, irrespective of the direction
of airflow. In this way, electricity is
generated when air leaves the chamber
and when air is sucked back.
40
Wello Oy
The Penguin WEC is a floating The company was founded in 2008 A full-scale device will be tested in
asymmetric vessel which houses an by Heikki Paakkinen, the inventor of Orkney at the start of summer 2011 and
eccentric rotating mass. The device is the working principle of the device. the manufacture of a set of pilot devices
shaped so that waves passing it cause The company is financed by VNT will begin in 2012.
the mass on a vertical shaft to rotate, Management, Veraventure, Tekes and
and convert this motion to electricity. some private investors.
41
The Wave Dragon is a slack-moored A Wave Dragon prototype (scale 1:4.5) Based on the extensive research and
wave energy converter that can be was deployed offshore in Nissum development background Wave Dragon
deployed alone or in parks, wherever Bredning, Denmark in March 2003. is now prepared to engage in building
a sufficient wave climate and a water Since May 2003 the prototype has actual power plants in co-operation with
depth of more than 15m is found. A been supplying electricity to the public utilities, power companies and other
Wave Dragon harnesses the energy in grid, hence being the first offshore project developers. An application for a
the waves directly via water turbines in a wave energy converter in the world 7MW project of West has been made,
one-step conversion system. Waves are to do so. Today Wave Dragon has including a full EIA. A design study for a
channeled by reflector wings towards a more than 20.000 operational hours of 1.5MW North Sea model, 3 times larger
curved ramp, where they surge up and research data on the prototype. Wave than the tested prototype, started in
overtop, into a large reservoir. Gravity Dragon has participated in individual 2011. A company with local investors
makes the water seek towards the sea assessment programs organised by the has (since 2005) been operating in
surface and is guided through a number Carbon Trust (UK) and Electric Power Portugal with the purpose of establishing
of low head hydro turbines – hence Research Institute (US), which have a 50MW farm of 12 units each 4MW.
generating electricity. verified the power and cost calculations
and perspectives for the Wave Dragon
solution. Before real sea deployment,
tank testing in scale 1:50 has been
carried out from 1998 to 2003 at Aalborg
University, Denmark and HMRC,
University College Cork, Ireland.
42
Tidal Energy
Tidal energy exploits the natural ebb and flow of coastal tidal waters, caused
principally by the interaction of the gravitational fields of the earth, moon and
sun. The fast sea currents are often magnified by topographical features, such as
headlands, inlets and straits, or by the shape of the seabed when water is forced
through narrow channels. The tidal stream devices that utilise these currents are
broadly similar to submerged wind turbines and are used to exploit the kinetic energy
in tidal currents. Due to the higher density of water, this means that the blades can be
smaller and turn more slowly, but they still deliver a significant amount of power. To
increase the flow and power output from the turbine, concentrators (or shrouds) may
be used around the blades to streamline and concentrate the flow towards the rotors.
C – Oscillating Hydrofoil
A hydrofoil attached to an oscillating arm and the motion is caused by the tidal
current flowing either side of a wing, which results in lift. This motion can then drive
fluid in a hydraulic system to be converted into electricity.
D – Venturi Effect
By housing the device in a duct, this has the effect of concentrating the flow past the
turbine. The funnel-like collecting device sits submerged in the tidal current. The flow
of water can drive a turbine directly, or the induced pressure differential in the system
can drive an air-turbine.
Other Designs
This covers those devices with a unique and very different design to the more well-
established types of technology, or if information on the device’s characteristics
could not be determined.
43
Further to the categories of devices identified opposite, there are also a range of
methods to fix the converter to the seabed.
ALSTOM Hydro
Device Operation The two classes of TISEC allow Alstom Future Plans
to offer machines that cover the widest
The TISEC is a direct drive, fixed pitch, possible number of tidal site conditions. The first Beluga 9 will be installed in
bi-directional ducted turbine. Water The Beluga 9 is designed for high energy the Bay of Fundy, Canada in 2012 and
lubricated bearings (originally developed sites with flows of ~ 9 knots at surface the Orca 7 will be installed in Paimpol,
for heavily loaded hydro installations) and in mean spring tide condition and a France in 2013. The company is also
direct water cooled axial flux PMG. The minimum water depth of 30m and the engaged in discussions over sites in
base is of the gravity type or secured by Orca 7 for medium energy sites with Europe and elsewhere.
piles depending on location. Designed for flows of ~ 7 knots at surface in mean
elimination of failure prone components spring tide condition and a minimum
and low maintenance using no lubricating water depth of 40m.
oils, gearbox, mechanical brake, pitch
control systems or rotating seals. The Company History
duct significantly increases the power
density of the TISEC by accelerating the Alstom are a multi-national company
tidal flow and directing it evenly across supplying the power market. They have
the turbine, reducing imbalance and 25% of the world hydro business and
fatigue forces that would otherwise act an increasing share of the wind market.
on the blades. The duct also reduces the Alstom Hydro’s Ocean Energy group,
precision required during installation in based in Nantes, has been developing
the alignment of the turbine to the tidal a range of TISECs since it signed an
stream. A central hole allows fish and exclusive license agreement with Clean
mammals to pass harmlessly through Current in April 2009. Clean Current’s
the turbine. The hole also allows a high extensive R&D programme culminated
speed jet, which more quickly establishes in the successful testing in 2006 at Race
suitable conditions for the next TISEC, Rocks in Canada of a third scale unit.
allowing closer spacing than would
otherwise be possible.
45
Horizontal kinetic energy due to tidal Originally an Australian company, Following two years of testing and
flows in the water column is converted ARC installed one of the first grid- environmental consenting, construction
to rotational kinetic energy via a highly connected tidal current turbines at San of the first commercial tidal array
efficient 3-bladed turbine. Rotational Remo in Victoria in 2006. Its Aquanator of Atlantis turbines is planned to
kinetic energy is converted into electrical device had a capacity of 100kw, and commence in summer 2012 in the
energy via a state of the art, permanent in the first operation of its type was Pentland Firth, Scotland (400MW on
magnet generator, variable speed drive decommissioned in 2008 to make way completion).
and control mechanism, and exported for the 150kw Nereus I device. Since
via medium voltage (3.8kV) export cable. then, ARC has developed partnerships
The AK-1000 turbine has two sets of with Morgan Stanley and Statkraft,
blades, allowing 1MW of peak power bringing its Solon and Kong series of
generation in each opposing tidal flow, turbines to the market, the AK-1000
without the need for a horizontal rotate being an instance of the latter.
mechanism.
46
Hammerfest Strøm
Device Operation The device has a unique high speed Company History
pitch system, allowing pitch and speed
The device works using the same control based on a sophisticated Hammerfest Strøm’s tidal stream
principle as a horizontal axis wind turbine, algorithm with the objective of device design is based on its 300kW
where tidal current produces a torque maximising energy capture, minimising prototype HS300 which was installed at
on the rotor, which is used to drive a ultimate and fatigue loads on the blades Kvalsundet, Finnmark, Northern Norway
step-up gearbox that in turn drives the and structural components of the device. in 2003 and was connected to the
asynchronous generator. Power quality is This allows the turbine to remain grid grid in 2004 becoming the worlds first
controlled by power electronics. The non- connected throughout a wide range of grid-connected device. The HS300 has
yawing device is designed to generate operating conditions. The pitch system been thoroughly tested through a full
power in the demanding tidal, wave and can also be adjusted to maximise the cycle of deployment, operation, retrieval,
turbulent coastal water environment, and energy yield of arrays of devices by maintenance and re-deployment.
can be deployed in a wide range of water minimising the velocity deficit associated
depths and water flow speeds. The device with the wake of each device.
design can be adjusted to accommodate Future Plans
varying channel parameters, water depths
and tidal flows. The next stage in the development of
Hammerfest Strøm’s device will be the
deployment of a 1MW model at EMEC in
2011, followed by a 10MW array at Islay
in 2013. Hammerfest Strøm intends to
move toward commercial deployment in
2015.
47
MCT’s SeaGen device comprises twin MCT was spun out of IT Power Ltd in Marine Current Turbines is currently
axial flow rotors of 16m diameter, 2000 to exploit tidal turbine technology. developing a 5MW array in Kyle Rhea,
each driving a generator via a speed- IT Power deployed a 15kw axial flow Skye, a 10MW array near Skerries,
increasing gearbox. The generator tidal turbine in Loch Linnhe in 1994, Anglesey. They have a 100MW project
output is rectified, inverted and which was the world’s first tidal turbine approved at Brough Ness in the
exported to the 11kv grid via a step-up and this was inherited and is owned by Pentland Firth.
transformer. The output is fully grid- MCT (who donated it to the Museum of
compliant and the twin turbines are Scotland in 2010).
independently operable. In 2003 a single rotor 300kW
experimental turbine known as Seaflow
The rotors have a patented full span was deployed in Lynmouth, North
pitch control such that they can generate Devon. This was decommissioned in
on flood and ebb tides. October 2009.
The 1.2MW at 2.4m/s SeaGen device
The structure is surface piercing so that was installed in Strangford in May 2008,
the drive trains can be raised to the and to date has successfully operated
surface for easy maintenance access for in excess of 4,000 operating hours
using low cost vessels. and generated in excess of 2.5GWh of
electricity on to the grid. It is accredited
by OFGEM as the first tidal stream
generating station.
48
Minesto
The Deep Green technology converts Minesto is a spin-off of the Saab In 2011 the first ocean installation will be
energy from tidal stream flows into Group. Development of the Deep Green made off the coast of Northern Ireland.
electricity by way of a novel principle, technology for a new type of tidal power In 2013 Minesto plans to start small-
somewhat similar to the posture of a plant started within the Saab Group in scale electricity production, expanding
wind kite. The kite assembly, consisting 2003. After four years of technological by 2016 to industrial-scale generation.
of a wing and turbine, is attached by a and commercial evaluation, Minesto Fully submerged 2MW SeaGen “U”
tether to a fixed point on the ocean bed. was formed in 2007 and is devoted system is being developed, to be
to continuing the journey towards deployed in Canada.
commercialization.
49
Pulse-Stream is an oscillating hydrofoil Pulse Tidal was formed in 2007, Building on the success of the Humber
tidal stream device. It extracts power following 10yr of development work by prototype, Pulse Tidal was awarded an
from tidal currents using a horizontal founder Marc Paish. The company has €8m grant to demonstrate Pulse-Stream
blade, which moves up and down. been operating a 100kW grid connected at 1.2MW commercial scale. Engineering
This movement drives a gearbox and prototype machine in the Humber of this machine is now well advanced,
generator through a crankshaft. The estuary since early 2009. This device with deployment expected in 2013.
motion is much like a “nodding donkey” has proven the Pulse concept in an open
oilfield beam pump. water environment.
The DeltaStream device is a 1.2MW unit TEL is a private company located in TEL will deploy the first full scale
which sits on the seabed without the Cardiff, South Wales. It was set up to DeltaStream device in Ramsey Sound
need for a positive anchoring system. It develop DeltaStream. Pembrokeshire in early 2012. Following
generates electricity from three separate TEL was previously named Tidal a successful 12month technical and
horizontal axis turbines mounted on a Hydraulic Generators Limited (THGL) environmental test of the device, TEL
common frame. which was originally established in will develop a pre commercial array at a
January 2001. This company was set site yet to be confirmed for installation
The use of three turbines on a single, up following intervention from the Welsh in 2014.
circa 36m wide, triangular frame Development Agency in 1999, support
produces a low centre of gravity from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
enabling the device to satisfy its and European Funds to test one of the
structural stability requirements, first UK trials of full scale blades in a
including the avoidance of overturning tidal flow. This project was successfully
and sliding. Each turbine’s nacelle completed in April 2002 and a second
has a hydraulic yawing system which phase, which added a generator to the
enables each turbine to turn to face the test rig, was completed in early 2003.
oncoming tide and therefore the unit can Subsequent to this initial pioneering
generate electricity on both the ebb and in the tidal stream industry, on the
flood tides. investment by Eco2 Limited and Carbon
Connections Limited the company
was renamed Tidal Energy Limited in
December 2007.
51
The TGL concept is a three-bladed TGL was formed in 2005 and the initial Design of the 1MWe full scale pre-
upstream tidal turbine that extracts small engineering team designed and commercial machine, based on the
energy during both flood and ebb assembled the 500kWe demonstrator 500kWe prototype, is underway as
tide. The nacelle is attached to a machine that has been generating since part of the Energy Technology Institute
lightweight foundation which is pinned September 2010. In 2009 TGL became a ReDAPT programme and will be used to
to the seabed. A mechanical clamp wholly owned subsidiary of Rolls-Royce capture data to validate industry wide
facilitates yawing powered by a rear and now has 35 employees. design and performance tools. It will run
mounted thruster. Once locked to face through 2012-2013 and form the basis
the optimum flow, the turbine cuts in of a 10 MWe demonstration array to be
at 1ms-1 and reaches rated power at built with a major UK utility in 2013.
2.7ms-1. For higher flow speeds the
blade pitch and generator torque are
regulated to maintain turbine speed
and machine power at rated values.
A fail safe mechanical break provides
control redundancy. A gearbox connects
the turbine to an induction generator,
and a frequency converter, step up
transformer and wet mate link complete
the generating system. The turbine will
output grid compatible 6.6kV 3-phase
power for connection to a tidal farm
electrical infrastructure.
52
TidalStream
The Triton system has turbines mounted The TidalStream partnership was The first full-scale system will be a Triton
on semi-submersible spar buoys founded in 2005 by Dr John Armstrong 3 which will be built and deployed to
secured to a seabed anchorage by a and Michael Todman, who brought demonstrate the ease of installation,
rigid swing-arm tether. Two versions of extensive experience from the wind, deployment and maintenance
Triton are being developed; the Triton marine, and power industries to the operations. TidalStream may undertake
3, which can mount three turbines each challenge of tidal generation. The this directly, or through a joint venture
20m diameter on a single cross-arm, technology has been built on the approach, dependent on turbines
and is designed for water depths of 35 pioneering work started by John utilised.
to 55m and Triton 6, which can mount Armstrong and patented in 2003. Early
six turbines on two horizontal cross- development was carried out through a
arms and produce up to 10MW in high consortium of organisations with support
velocity deeper water sites such as the from the UK government (BERR/DECC),
Pentland Firth. and has subsequently been built on
through tank testing, modelling, patent
Triton can support horizontal axis protection, and the present series of
turbines that can be open rotor, tests in the Thames.
shrouded, geared or direct drive
systems. It can swing around its
mounting and thus always present
the turbines to the tide removing the
need for reversing pitch, and can
accommodate fixed or variable pitch
systems. It also maximises energy
capture by optimum positioning of the
rotors in the stream depth (currents near
the surface generally run significantly
faster than those near the seabed).
53
SMEC is a unique patented technology Formed in 1979 for innovative subsea During 2011 to 2013, further testing
that uses Bernoulli’s venturi principles oil and gas product development, the continuing from the SETS project will
to convert large low head flows to company was renamed VerdErg in be undertaken on VerdErg’s full-scale
smaller flows at higher heads. SMEC’s 2005 to mark a change of focus onto test apparatus to refine the auditable
venturi shape allows a primary flow of a renewable energy. VerdErg is applying database that endorses the power
moving body of water to pass through its 30 years experience of operating output claims made for SMEC. A
the device creating a pump. SMEC’s in the hostile marine environment temporary demonstration installation
venturi pump draws a higher head drop West of Shetlands with the intention will then be installed in a small existing
secondary flow to drive a conventional of designing SMEC as a technology water course in Cumbria prior to the
axial flow turbine – the only underwater with low maintenance, low cost, good first commercial facility coming on-line.
moving part – which in turn drives a performance and which is inherently Fish passage studies are planned, to
generator above the surface. Its simple reliable. identify any effects on fish of changes in
versatile design can function in a range water pressure and shear forces during
of flow conditions in rivers, marine and passage through SMEC, and to facilitate
estuarine locations and is scaleable from selection of appropriate mitigation
a few KW to multi-GW installations. techniques, if needed. VerdErg will
continue to progress SMEC along its
development road map through small
river projects to tidal estuaries in the UK
and abroad to make it a fully credible
and mature technology that will stand as
a viable environmentally friendly ultra-
low head hydropower solution.
54
The Voith HyTide Tidal power plant is Founded on January1st 1867, Voith is A full scale 1MW demonstrator
a 3 bladed, horizontal axis, free-stream a global leader in the paper, energy, (supported by MRPF funding) will
turbine with symmetric blade shapes mobility and service industries. Voith follow in a two step approach:
for bi-directional flow. The rotor drives Hydro is a Group Division of Voith and
the direct-driven permanent excited belongs to the world-wide leading • Support Structure Installation
generator. companies for hydro power equipment. (drilled monopile), planned for
With the acquisition of Wavegen in summer 2011.
The kinetic energy of the tidal current is 2005, the company has focused on • Turbine installation, due in 2012.
transformed by the rotor (symmetrical the development of marine renewable
hydraulic profiles) into mechanical energy.
energy on the shaft. The direct-driven
generator is excited with permanent In 2009, Voith Hydro and RWE Innogy
magnets and converts mechanical announced the formation of the
power into electrical power, which is joint venture of Voith Hydro Ocean
rectified, converted and transformed into Current Technologies to accelerate
grid frequency and voltage. the development, manufacture and
marketing of ocean current technologies.
RWE Innogy holds 20% in the company
and Voith Hydro is the majority
shareholder with 80%.
RenewableUK
Greencoat House, Francis Street
London SW1P 1DH, United Kingdom