WWT floating tidal turbine to be tested off British Columbia

Water Wall Turbine (WWT) is progressing well with the construction of its floating tidal energy turbine planned to be deployed for testing off Dent Island this year.

The C$5.6 million Dent Island Tidal Power Generation Project could see the deployment of 500 kW floating tidal energy device off Dent Island, adjacent to Vancouver Island, off the west coast of British Columbia, by the end of this year.

According to the Natural Resources Canada, the fabrication of the floating structure is complete and is now on the dry dock to test the stability and buoyancy.

The turbine blades are fabricated and will be installed in the coming months along with the generator.

The energy storage and management system are ready to be shipped and installed at the demonstration location.

It is expected that the turbine will be tested on the Fraser River and moved to the demonstration location within the next 6 months, according to Natural Resources Canada.

WWT concept consists an anchored floating structure with a large paddle wheel that rotates at a slow speed of less than 20 revolutions per minute (RPM).

The shaft of the wheel is connected to a gearbox that turns a generator and produces electricity.

The technology is scalable from 500 kW to 5 MW per unit, according to WWT.

The Dent Island Tidal Power Generation Project is expected to validate the merits of the Water Wall Turbine as a viable Canadian energy generating technology.

WWT is a British Columbia-based multinational organization dedicated to clean, environmental friendly, renewable energy production.

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