Sustainable Marine Energy has introduced a new tidal turbine for use in sheltered bays or near protected coast. It offers a new opportunity for extracting renewable energy. The turbine was tested off Scotland last week.
It is Sustainable Marine Energy's floating PLAT-1 platform: a multiple turbine floating tidal energy platform to which SCHOTTEL HYDRO's (SHY) turbine system with a total output of 280 kW is attached. The innovative design of PLAT-I, a lightweight trimaran, facilitates easy and economical transport, assembly and launching close to the intended deployment site. All tasks can be performed with the use of locally, readily available equipment. To illustrate this, the system was assembled and launched within four weeks at Dunstaffnage Marina in Scotland using a standard mobile crane. The structure has a length of 32 metres and span of 27 metres.
In addition, the platform has three keel-shaped floats, one long and two lateral short ones and these, with their shallow draft, provide low flow resistance and at the same time high stability. The simple, modular platform can also be assembled on slabs where there is less infrastructure, making it easy to deploy to small coastal communities or islands.
Four turbines
The PLAT-I system can be equipped with all kinds of tidal turbines. In the current project, the Schottel Hydro SIT250 turbines were chosen, which can also do their job well in relatively shallow water. The four turbines are suspended from rotating poles and have a total capacity of 280 kW. The platform has the ability to lift the SITS out of the water, for example for maintenance and transport. Once in the right places, they are lowered into the water.
The power converter is located in a container on the floating frame that is easily accessible. Easy and quick installation thus helps reduce the cost of this form of renewable energy. It took two days to transport a tidal power platform to its location and then anchor it.
Autumn storms
During the first week of December, PLAT-I was successfully tested off the coast of Scotland in strong tidal currents and autumn storms. The operation, including towing, was completed in less than five hours. The turbines delivered the expected amount of electricity and the plant remained stable on site.
The platform is now being taken apart again and re-installed in the Philippines. Singapore-based renewable energy investment company ENVIROTEK Pte Ltd has commissioned it. Eventually, Sustainable Marine Energy wants to carry out more such projects.
By: Kelly Bakker
Source: Sustainable Marine/De Ingenieur
