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Renewables revolution as first tidal-power turbine comes on stream for National Grid



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Published Date: 28 May 2008
By Frank Urquhart
SCOTLAND'S drive to develop new sources of renewable energy took a leap forward yesterday as the first tidal-power-driven electricity was connected to the National Grid.
The milestone was achieved by OpenHydro, an Irish-based renewable-energy company, whose tidal turbine device was installed at the European Marine Energy Centre's (Emec) test site off the island of Eday in Orkney two years ago.

The single 250kW tu
rbine can generate enough electricity to power only 100 homes, but it is expected to pave the way for a huge tidal-power development next year in the Channel Islands.

Jim Mather, Scotland's energy minister, hailed the breakthrough, saying: "This is the first time in Scotland that homes will be powered using the energy of the tides – a massive step forward for Scottish research and technology.

"Scotland has unrivalled potential to generate clean, green energy from our seas. Marine power lies at the heart of our ambitions to develop a vibrant renewables sector, creating jobs and boosting economic growth while tackling climate change."

James Ives, OpenHydro's chief executive, explained: "The OpenHydro turbine is one of the first tidal technologies in the world to reach the stage of permanent deployment at sea and is the accumulation of ten years' design and development work.

"Tidal energy sets itself apart from other forms of renewable energy in that it is completely predictable.

"It is the fastest-growing emerging technology in the renewable-energy sector and is set to make a major contribution to the security of energy supply and to carbon-free energy generation."

Emec was established with the aid of funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), the Scottish Government and other sources to support the development of wave and tidal energy devices from the prototype stage through to the commercial marketplace.

Neil Kermode, the centre's managing director, said: "The oceans are a huge potential source of sustainable energy. If we can harvest even a small quantity of the power contained within them, we can deliver a significant share of the electricity needs of countries around the world."

Liam McArthur, the Liberal Democrats' energy spokesman and MSP for Orkney, also welcomed the development.

He said: "As fuel prices rocket, fossil fuels are running out and a safe and effective solution to disposing of nuclear waste eludes us, it is more important than ever to invest seriously in renewable energy."

However, he warned: "Emec is a world-leading facility, but it will require ongoing investment to keep it that way."

Electricity – from a load of rubbish

MORAY Council will today officially inaugurate a new renewable energy generation project that is harnessing methane gas from the area's only landfill site to provide electricity to power 1,300 homes.

The gas collection facilities have been installed at Nether Dallachy, in Spey Bay.

The project has been designed and built by Renewable Power Systems, in collaboration with Moray Council and the Crown Estate. The company will also operate the system.

Renewable Power Systems, which will recoup the company's investment by selling the electricity to the National Grid, has installed the plant at no cost to the council.

A percentage of the royalties will also be paid to the council and the owners of the site, the Crown Estate.

Councillor George McIntyre, the council's convener, said: "Methane gas is the most harmful of all the greenhouse gases, so to harness it in this positive way and generate electricity is of double benefit.

"Energy resources are becoming scarcer and more expensive to process and, as an authority, we have a duty to ensure we make the most of what we have."



The full article contains 613 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

 
1

GlenB,

28/05/2008 00:50:35
Electricity – from a load of rubbish

methane from landfill isn't renewable unless you use the energy to manufacture more rubbish.
2

Nomada,

28/05/2008 07:33:18
GlenB #1 writes: 'methane from landfill isn't renewable unless you use the energy to manufacture more rubbish'.

Renewable energy sources in this context are those which cycle CO2 naturally in a natural timescale, thus resulting in no net increase in CO2.

This methane is of recent organic origin - the plant and animal material in the landfill. The CO2 produced by its combustion is used by green plants for photosynthesis, and these can then be used as a (renewable) energy source, so methane from landfill is indeed 'renewable'.

Methane from ancient geological stores would not be 'renewable'.
3

Saoghal Beag,

28/05/2008 07:56:21
oh for pity's sake, it's not a turbine so you can't complain about it blotting the landscape but still the maons will come in. It provides affordable heating and it uses a waste product, which would be flared anyway. methane also has greater potential of impact in the atmosphere than CO2 therefore it reduces our impact.

Dave it is true that organic waste is no longer such a large component of landfill, but this site and the one in dunfermline have been filled over many years and do contain a high proportion of organic waste.
4

Nomada,

28/05/2008 08:09:07
Dave #3 - in your own word, 'WROOOONNNGGG'. Again. You are a really childish individual. 'He who knows not and knows not he knows not - he is a fool'.
5

Unimpressed one,

28/05/2008 08:14:27
"Jim Mather, Scotland's energy minister, hailed the breakthrough, saying: "This is the first time in Scotland that homes will be powered using the energy of the tides – a massive step forward for Scottish research and technology."

One nuclear station would produce enough power to provide electricity for thousands at a stroke. So WTF is he ranting about?
6

Nell,

The Preservation Hall 28/05/2008 08:26:26
It seems to have taken a very long time to develop tidal power. When I was at university in the late 70's they were researching/developing wave and tidal power. Perhaps if more funding/effort had been put in then we might have had a lot more of this type of power generation up and running and not worrying about wind turbines etc.
7

Melly,

Sussex 28/05/2008 08:57:34
"– a massive step forward for Scottish research and technology."
The milestone was achieved by OpenHydro, an IRISH-BASED RENEWABLE-ENERGY COMPANY !!!!!!!!! erm am I missing something here ?
8

Boy Wonder,

28/05/2008 09:03:38
All of these "reneable energy" schemes are going to stop when science manages to tap into the geo-thermic energy of the planet. Either that or cold-fusion, dark matter, anti-matter, dilithium (or its real-world equivalent).

It's really closer to reality than you might think .... cue The Twilight Zone music! :D
9

Slioch,

Scottish Highlands 28/05/2008 09:10:57
#9 Nell

Correct. I looked into the funding for renewable energy in 1986. The following summarises the situation then (written in 1986):

"Research into alternative energy sources in Britain is directed by the Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) at Harwell which is also responsible for nuclear energy research. Perhaps not surprisingly, whilst the Government, via the AEA, lavish huge sums on the latter (eg. £6000 million to date on research and development of the fast breeder reactor at Dounreay), very, very little (this year £14 million in all) has been spent on alternatives."

It is this failure to invest sufficiently in renewable energy in the 1970s 80s and 90s that has resulted in the painfully slow rate of progress.
10

frank mcbride,

lusitania 28/05/2008 09:24:54
#9, Nell.

You are quite right about tidal power, '60s/'70s.

The blame for under-funding lies squarely with the Labour Govt. of the time, particularly the Energy Minister, Tony Benn. The choice was to fund NUCLEAR, at the expense of NEW innovative technologies.

The development of tidal power did not assist the production of WMDs, hence the funding choice.
11

Toast,

28/05/2008 09:34:23
Wave power has always been the obvious,reliable source of energy,what have governments got against it except that oil companies etc have invested in wind power which is totally enreliable,usual political stitch up.
12

Rulesbutnotrulers,

Federation, not separation 28/05/2008 10:46:15
VERY GOOD NEWS !

Ocean energy solves nearly all energy problems. It can make hydrogen,too, so cheap holiday flights can continue.

Britain has more than enough free ocean energy sloshing about to power Europe.

If only the government would push the suppliers forcibly in this direction! Let oil prices soar, please God. It's the only kick in the bahookie that'll get things moving
13

,

28/05/2008 11:23:05
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
14

Melly,

Sussex 28/05/2008 11:54:59
As a Sales Engineer selling data sensing, gathering and analysis equipmentin the 70s I tried with some difficulty to persuade Stephen Salter ( of nodding Ducks fame )to by our equipment with no great success. He was strapped for cash for his research into wave power and I have no doubt he still is, if he is still employed at Edinburgh University. The lack of knowledge and understanding of engineering by those with the power to provide research grants in the UK is quite appalling and I doubt if he was to give a presentation on his research to our Oxford/Cambridge educated, career, and party numpty MPs they would think he was speaking in a foreign language. I`m afraid our technology will be rejected by our captains of idustry, and piked up by forign business as usual.
15

Saoghal Beag,

28/05/2008 13:27:40
7 Dave, right but a few anaerobe digesters can take their place as we are unlikley to become waste free as a nation.
16

Captain Flint,

Near to the sea 28/05/2008 13:28:54
We really need to crack on with this kind of thing. As has been pointed out above, there's enormous amounts of power in the waves and tides, and they're much more predictable than the wind as well.

But we're running out of time very fast. If we got our act together we could get a couple of gigawatts out of the tides around Scotland over the next decade. But at this rate, we'll be doing well to have more than a few Megawatts out there.
17

Neil,

Glasgow 28/05/2008 14:30:24
Tidal power only works half the day, when the tides are running. Presumably these houses will remain lighted the rest of the time by nuclear, coal or gas.

On the other hand the paper says that this 250kw turbine will supply 100 homes which is cansiderable step closer to reality than all the previous articles where somebody launching a windfarm has produced figures which said that 100,000 kw plants could provide power for at least 100,000 homes.
18

Saoghal Beag,

28/05/2008 15:05:11
20 Neil and which half of the day do the tides not run? Tidal turbines generally work both ways so it is only the turn of the tide that does not generate.
19

Geomac 1,

Scotland 28/05/2008 16:20:37
Whoop de do! 250kw's of power. I wonder how much this cost??
20

Geomac 1,

Scotland 28/05/2008 16:34:44
How many noticed the power outages yesterday as a consequence os Sizewell and Longannet being shut down? 250kw is not going to help the big picture and we simply don't have the time to mess about with piddly little renewable projects in the shorter term - the need for serious new build (nuclear and coal) power stations is NOW as a bridge until renewable alternatives are commercially viable on the scale needed!!
21

Geomac 1,

Scotland 28/05/2008 16:41:59
#14 Toast - waves are no more reliable than wind and wave generators require wave heights of around 5.5 metres for 100% capacity. At 1 metre wave height the efficiency drops to 3% - and most importantly waves depend to a large extent on wind!!
22

HarderTruth,

28/05/2008 18:24:32
Prof Salter is indeed still peddling his nodding ducks. Unfortunately, 25 years of fiddling around has left them as far fetched today as then. The reason few people have developed this technology is that it is highly inefficient, ridiculously complex, completly liable to failure and er........ 20 time more expensive than rubbing sticks. There clealry are a lot of folks out there who have little or no experience of ofshore engineering. Think of it this way - a car can run for ten years onshore but for less than 10 seconds in the sea. That's the huge problem: saline water, coupled with variable accelerations makes almost everything fail. Ask Salter - he's not managed to solve this basic challenge after a lifetime working on it. The world would be better off investing in clean coal technologies than re-hearsing King Canute.
23

John Blackley,

Florida 28/05/2008 19:05:41
A "revolution"? One 250kw turbine, manufactured by an Irish company, installed in a test facility?

Good step forward, lots of potential, glad to see it happening but can we please save the superlatives - with which this article is larded - for when something a tidge more significant happens?
24

Liberal for life,

Dunblane 28/05/2008 19:17:58
And this kind of project was well underway long before the SNP got in - and who was the Business and Energy Minister responsible for encouraging these initiatives - stand up our leader Nicol Stephen. Please take a bow, you deserve it.
25

Van (not white) Diesel,

Amsterdam & Augsburg 28/05/2008 21:53:01
#20 Neil
You have a point, if you are referring to this one installation. However, unless the moon and sun go on strike, I think you will find that multiple installations dotted around the coast will provide seamless output.
26

Saoghal Beag,

28/05/2008 22:00:41
Geomac, black outs due the failure of a nuclear plant (more reliable than Hunterston) anda coal plant and your solution is lets do more of the same....there's a flaw in your argument can't quite put my finger on it.

Time to think forward and not repeat the same mistakes. Broon has all the foresight of a rabbit in headlights.
27

Adopado,

local 29/05/2008 00:03:22
#24 and #14 ... this is about predictable *tidal* power. Wave power is something different, The tides are utterly reliable; waves rather less so, though certainly a potential source.
28

Greenheatman,

TAIN 29/05/2008 15:13:59
"""The tides are utterly reliable; waves rather less so, though certainly a potential source.""""

What rubbish! The tides can be relied on to go from Springs to Neaps and back to Springs and so on. At the zenith of Springs the power available is 8/8ths; at the nadir of Neaps the power available is just 1/8th.

The only reliability here is that someone, who knows nothing about tides will ALWAYS suggest using them.

It goes without saying that my invention, Gentec venturi, has solved this problem and the intermittency problem too
29

Isonomia,

Lenzie 30/05/2008 10:22:52
"It is this failure to invest sufficiently in renewable energy in the 1970s 80s and 90s that has resulted in the painfully slow rate of progress." (by Neil I think)

Fundamentally, the problem of renewable investment in the UK (and USA and Germany) was investment in the wrong kind of development.

The problem of renewable energy is making the machine reliable enough and low-cost enough to compete with conventional energy production.

By involving Universities, and grant funded R&D professionals, in single massive "windturbines", the UK focussed its efforts on "breakthrough" technology which usually meant "efficiency of conversion of the wind to energy", whereas the real poblem of windmills (and those who were successful call them windmills) is that the constant stress of being buffeting by the wind creates havoc with gearbox reliability. (blade tips go around 1,000,000 miles between services!!! compare that with your car!!!!!)

The Danes paid small farmers to put up windmills and managed to gain a massive amount of in-the-field experience from which (after some 10,000 machines) they were able to iron out the reliability problems by "throwing metal at it". And whilst the machines were acknowledged to be aerodynamically inefficient, heavy and ugly, the basic fact is that if you went to california to see the wind farms, the ones turning and producing money were the Danish machines.

As the Danes continued getting better and better, the UK tried to leapfrog their success by creating one-off massive technologicall "superior" machines which were not only failures, but failed to learn the lessons of previous machines using the Danish incremental development approach.

Basically, success in renewable energy means coming down the reliability curve by having a stable design which is incrementally improved based on field experience of 1000s of machines.

Unfortunately, the UK is institutionally incapable of learning the lessons from wind energy and we continue to
30

Isonomia,

Lenzie 30/05/2008 10:26:05
Unfortunately, the UK is institutionally incapable of learning the lessons from wind energy and we continue to invest in one-off high-tech reliability disasters and continue to invest in one-off massive machines rather than spending the same money on 100s of smaller machines that would actually get us down the reliability curve toward a workable cost-effective machine.

Recap of years of R&D into this field including meeting the first people in the Danish Wind research institute - tell me about all this research you did, I asked.

After a pause, they answered - we occaisionally went to the scrap metal merchants to look for better lorry gearboxes, is that what you mean?
31

Hickory,

US 09/06/2008 00:56:59
Well now, ye have a nice toy there. But 'ave not fear. The lefties will find a wrong with it and slam it for bein' bad. Aye if electricity were given from heaven for free they would criticise it. I 'ave always thought a large insulated verticle pipe stuck over the thermal vents in the ocean would do more. The upwelling would be perpetual and drive turbines well. But what do I know? I'm only an engineer.

 

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