Norway approves construction of 350kW tidal power plant

Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) has granted a license to Norwegian Ocean Power for the construction and operation of a 350kW tidal demonstration plant.

The power plant will be located north of the Arctic Circle in Gimsøystraumen, Norway, providing an annual energy production of approximately 1GWh, according to the license approval granted on March 4, 2017.

It will feature Norwegian Ocean Power’s horizontal-axis spiral-design tidal turbine, which will be installed on the anchored steel foundation at the water depth of around 15 meters.

The size of the 350kW tidal power plant will be approximately 12 by 6 meters, and the power will be exported via subsea cables to the grid – either through a 22kV distribution system, or via the old tidal power plant owned by Hydra Tidal Energy Technology, the license approval document reads.

Norwegian Ocean Power developed a tidal current turbine based on the Darrieus-turbine design with one moving part that drives a variable speed direct drive generator, which in turns produces electricity.

To remind, Norwegian Ocean Power recently concluded the testing of its turbine undertaken at Drammensfjorden in Norway.