The BlueTEC tidal energy platform has gone full circle, from drawing to full-scale deployed and grid-connected device, in just 6 months, according to Bluewater, one of the developers behind the Texel Tidal project.
The platform was launched earlier this year off Texel island, the Netherlands, and is already feeding electricity to the Dutch grid.
It is fitted with Tocardo’s T1 100 kW tidal energy turbine, and the Texel Tidal project partners have announced the next step in the project development – the installation of Tocardo’s T2 200 kW tidal turbine, expected to be completed before the winter this year.
Another upgrade of the platform is expected to follow shortly that will see the installation of another T2 turbine, bringing the capacity of the platform to 400-500 kW, which, Allard van Hoeken states, would represent a proven tidal energy solution on the market.
This first BlueTEC will serve as a demonstration platform targeted at remote locations worldwide, such as islands in Indonesia, Philippines and the Pacific.
The list of Texel Tidal project partners includes Bluewater, Damen Shipyards Group, Niron Staal, Van Oord, Acta Marine, Vryhof Anchors, TKF, Tocardo, Schottel Hydro, NIOZ, Tidal Testing Centre, Nylacast and the Port of Den Helder.
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Image/Video: Bluewater