IHI and Toshiba to research ocean turbine system

IHI Corporation and Toshiba have been selected by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) as co-researchers in the R&D of ocean energy technology, IHI’s press release reads.

After concluding the formal contract with NEDO, a demonstration research of a turbine system driven by the ocean current will be conducted, the company says.

Within this framework, the “underwater floating type ocean current turbine system” developed by IHI and Toshiba will demonstrate power generation in a real ocean environment, in a project expected to continue until 2017, it is stated in the press release.

The research work is expected to prove the viability of ocean energy power generation and to create the framework for an industry, and also to contribute to improved energy security for Japan.

Toshiba will supply electric devices, such as the generator and transformer.

The underwater floating type ocean current turbine system is a power generation device with two counter-rotating turbines. It is anchored to the sea floor and floats like a kite carried and driven by the ocean current.

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Image: IHI