MAKO Tidal Energy Demonstration Site Opens in Singapore

MAKO Energy, a Singapore-based marine renewable energy company and a subsidiary of the Elemental Energy Technologies Group, has officially opened the MAKO Tidal Energy Site at the Sentosa Boardwalk, Singapore.

The official launch of the MAKO Tidal Energy Site follows signing of a collaboration agreement between MAKO Energy and Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) in December 2018 that allows MAKO Energy to use a part of the Sentosa Boardwalk as a test bed site for the installation of tidal turbines.

The site will demonstrate the unique, scalable tidal energy system under South East Asian conditions.

Elemental Energy Technologies Group CEO, Douglas Hunt, said: “We are very excited to demonstrate our MAKO Energy System in Singapore to showcase the benefits of predictable renewable energy in tropical conditions, to the vast Asian market.“

“A key objective for the tidal energy industry is to reduce the cost of electricity. At the Sentosa Boardwalk site, MAKO Energy is demonstrating how the unique scale of the MAKO allows it to be attached to existing infrastructure, which reduces both installation and maintenance costs.”

The MAKO Tidal Energy Site has involved collaboration with Singapore based companies, Mooreast Asia – fabrication; YWL Engineering – professional engineer services; Ocean Works Asia – resource assessment assistance; and NYK Group – business strategy for shipping industry.

Enterprise Singapore (ESG) has been supportive to MAKO Energy. ESG’s grant scheme has been instrumental in helping to hire local talent to implement the project.

Future research at the site will involve other Singapore-based companies, including Forsee Power – energy storage and ClassNK – certification services.

MAKO Energy will also continue to engage Institutes of Higher Learning. For example, MAKO Energy has been collaborating with Dr. Srikanth Narasimalu of the Energy Research Institute at Nanyang Technological University, who will focus on resource studies in tropical waters. Similarly, MAKO energy will work with other institutes on specific topics such as eco system monitoring and data analytics.

Hunt added: “Elemental Energy Technologies Group acknowledges the vision shown by companies such as Eagle Industry from Japan and our Singapore partners who have contributed to the success of this site and ensured that Singapore remains at the forefront of tidal energy research and demonstration in Asia.”

Eagle Industry has provided mechanical seals for MAKO Energy’s turbine shafts for the demonstration of tidal power generation at the Sentosa Boardwalk.

Dr Uemura, senior managing director/division manager of Engineering Division from Eagle Industry said “We have high expectations for the Sentosa project as an opportunity to demonstrate the extremely low torque capabilities of our outstanding surface texturing seal technology. We see our seals being a key component of ocean power generation systems, improving power generation efficiency and contributing to long-term reliability.”

He concluded: “Renewable energy is attracting attention today and we will not only contribute to the marine power generation field through our technologies and products, but also strive to further improve our proprietary technologies and develop new products to contribute to environmental protection.”

MAKO Energy chairman Dr Kenneth Burnett said: “The Sentosa Boardwalk demonstration site is a key element in our strategy to become a first mover in providing predictable ocean energy to the emerging Blue Economy in Asia then globally.”

The Blue Economy is a term used to describe the various industries based around and in the world’s oceans. These industries include aquaculture, transportation and energy generation. The Blue Economy will involve the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improve livelihoods and jobs and ocean ecosystem health.

Dr Burnett added: “Ocean energy is an important element of the Blue Economy and MAKO Energy is undertaking the Sentosa Boardwalk demonstration as part of its work to develop systems suitable for this emerging sector.”