Tidetec, a Norway-based hydropower technology company, displayed its turbine turning mechanism prototype in Svelvik on 13 August, ahead of sea testing.
“The technology displayed in Svelvik has the potential to disrupt the tidal turbine industry by optimizing the economy in tidal energy projects” , said Tidetec’s Managing Director Arne Kollandsrud.
The prototype is intended to simulate a large scale barrage or lagoon application for a low head hydro turbine. The turret will be tested in a tidal stream environment for six weeks, beginning next month.
“The seawater tests will give us proof of concept and show that a turning classic low head hydro turbine can be the most efficient tidal lagoon or barrage turbine” , said Joachim N. Amland , CTO of Tidetec. “The testing will show the robustness of the turning mechanism and the ability to keep the intended areas dry. In addition, we will test that the turret proves as a robust housing for a low head hydro turbine. The next steps will be to integrate a suited turbine into our turret, and upscale the technology.”
Compared with the most effective turbines on the market, the solution produces between 8-12% more power during a full tidal cycle, the developer said.
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