Editor’s Pick: Highlights of 2015

Editor's-Pick-Highlights-of-2015
bioWAVE unit (Photo: BioPower Systems)

 
Tidal Energy Today’s editors have compiled the list of the news from tidal, wave, and OTEC energy sectors that have marked the year behind us.

Atlantis acquires Siemens’ Marine Current Turbines

Atlantis has acquired Marine Current Turbines from Siemens in an all share deal. The acquisition includes seabed rights, existing projects, staff and intellectual property. With this acquisition, Atlantis has added six projects expanding its operations to Wales, Northern Ireland and Southern England and increased the company’s project development capacity to nearly 600 MW.

Tocardo installs 5 tidal turbines

Tocardo installs 5 tidal turbines

Tocardo Tidal Turbines, a Dutch-based tidal turbines producer, and Huisman, the designer of the turbine’s suspension structure, have completed the installation of an array consisting of 5 tidal turbines in the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier, the Netherlands.

Makai connects OTEC plant to US grid

Makai Ocean Enegineering has completed the ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) power plant and connected it to the Hawaiian electricity grid. The plant’s generation capacity is 100 kW, which is enough to power 120 Hawaiian households.

UK: Planning consent granted for Swansea Bay tidal lagoon

UK Secretary of State, Amber Rudd, has granted the planning consent for the construction of the world’s first tidal lagoon in Swansea Bay. The decision for granting the planning consent was made 3 months after the Planning Inspectorate issued a report of recommendation to the Secretary of State on March 10.

Galway Bay ocean observatory equipment installation

Ireland completes Galway Bay Ocean Observatory

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), with its partners, has completed the construction of the Galway Bay underwater ocean observatory. The observatory equipment will allow ocean energy developers to monitor how their devices are performing in the ocean as well as give ocean researchers real-time access to monitor ongoing changes in the marine environment.

EWP completes power plant in Israel. Gibraltar to follow

Eco Wave Power (EWP) has completed the installation of its second generation wave power plant in Israel, and started parts procurement process for its new project in Gibraltar. The improved EWP’s wave energy system was installed in Jaffa Port, Israel, and thhe upgraded power plant will be working with two floaters.

VIDEO: BlueTEC from drawing to full-scale device in 6 months

The BlueTEC tidal energy platform has gone full circle, from drawing to full-scale deployed and grid-connected device, in just 6 months. The platform was launched earlier this year off Texel island, the Netherlands, and is already feeding electricity to the Dutch grid.

Aquamarine-Power-out-of-business-TNAquamarine Power out of business

Aquamarine Power, an Edinburgh-based wave energy developer, has ceased trading on November 23, 2015, following the announcement that it is going into administration. Failing to find the buyer for the wave energy company, the joint administrators announced that the firm is going into liquidation, leaving 13 people without a job.

Nova Scotia introduces tidal legislation

Government of Nova Scotia has introduced a new legislation that will regulate the development of marine renewable energy projects. The act governs the development of marine renewable energy resources including waves, tidal range, in-stream tidal, ocean currents, and offshore wind in designated areas offshore Nova Scotia.

US DoE launches Wave Energy Prize competition

US Department of Energy has opened the registration period for the Wave Energy Prize competition that aims to double the performance of wave energy conversion devices over the next two years. The team that ranks the highest after testing the 1/20th scale WEC device model will be awarded USD 1.5 mln. The second team will win an award in the amount of USD 500.000, and the third-placed tam will be awarded USD 250.000.

Nigg Energy Park

Atlantis brings business to Nigg Energy Park

Atlantis has granted Global Energy Group (GEG) a preferred supplier status for the provision of certain fabrication, manufacture, assembly and logistical support services. Atlantis announced it would enter into a lease at GEG’s Nigg Energy Park for Shop 1, located in Scotland, and use the facility for turbine assembly and testing.

Sabella’s D10 tidal turbine hits water

Sabella's D10 turbine

Sabella, a Frech tidal energy developer, has installed its D10 tidal turbine at Fromveur Passage, off Ushant Island on June 25, 2015. The cost of the project is estimated to be between €13-14 mln in total, and it will cover 15 to 20% of the Ushant island’s electricity consumption needs.

Perth Wave Energy Project connects to the grid

Perth Wave Energy Project was formally opened by Ian Macfarlane, the Federal Minister for Industry and Science, and is now feeding electricity to the West Australian power grid. The Project represents the first grid connected CETO wave power plant and the only wave power plant anywhere in the world operating multiple wave units.

VIDEO DeltaStream device deploymentDeltaStream tidal device deployed off Wales

Tidal Energy Ltd, a Cardiff-based tidal energy developer, has deployed its DeltaStream tidal energy device into Ramsey Sound, off Pembrokeshire, Wales. The 400 kW demonstration device weighs 200 tonnes, with a frame 16 m long and 18 m high.

BPS installs bioWAVE off Australia

BioPower Systems (BPS) has deployed its 250 kW bioWAVE pilot demonstration wave energy unit off Port Fairy, Victoria, Australia. The device is expected to operate for a 12-month period before being decommissioned.

 

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