News | Tidal today

"The projects will address a number of important technological challenges, including reducing the effect of the technologies on the environment and making the cost of wave and tidal stream energy production more competitive with other renewable energy sources."

In July 2010 the Board announced investments totalling £7m in nine research and development projects, focussing on the twin aims of driving down the cost of energy while improving the reliability and performance of wave and tidal stream energy devices.

Analyst report highlights gaps in tidal sector's future success

The World Wave & Tidal Market Report by energy industry analysts Douglas-Westwood said that the first commercial wave and tidal current stream projects are now appearing online and forecast expenditure for the 2011-2015 period is $1.2bn, however it also highlighted the major challenges that the sector has yet to conquer.
"With the sector still young, there are significant issues that must be addressed and overcome," said the report.

The report highlights the many challenges the sector faces such as reliability, cost of electricity, environmental protection issues and availability of project finance.

"There are many unknowns facing the industry that may prevent companies from reaching the 150-MW projection outlined in the report," said the report.
With that said, more governments are providing R&D funding and incentives for project developers, providing a needed boost for these early-stage companies.

According to Douglas-Westwood, The UK, Canada and US will be the three biggest markets through 2015.

The UK leads with 110 MW of projected installations. Driven by a strong tidal resource, excellent R&D and support, Canada is the second largest market. The US is also making progress, again with much R&D funding attracting developers.

But while the technology is being developed in these core tidal markets, manufacturing is likely to be lost to low cost centres in Asia, a market that is also now looking to develop its tidal energy sources.

North Olympic Peninsula receives funding to harness offshore wind and tidal projects
The Clallam County Economic Development Council in the US state of Washington has taken the first step toward making the North Olympic Peninsula a hub for the renewable-energy industry, including tidal energy, it was reported in the Peninsula Daily News.

According to the report, EDC Executive Director Linda Rotmark said the organization will use a $25,000 grant from the state Department of Commerce and a $17,000 contribution from local public entities to assess the region's potential for hosting more green energy projects and the companies that make them happen.
Rotmark said the expanding industry "has the potential for being a gold rush" for the Peninsula, primarily because of its long coastlines, deep water port in Port Angeles and the presence of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Sequim Marine Research Operations.

The study will include the counties of Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap and Grays Harbor and is due to make a report by 30 June of this year.

It will be followed by another study, possibly done by the end of the year, aimed at giving the four counties a "road map" for developing renewable-energy projects and industries, Rotmark said in the news report.

She added that the second phase will involve more assistance from the other counties' economic development councils. Primarily, the studies will look at off-shore wind along with wave and tidal energy projects, but biomass and other energy sources will also be included, Rotmark said.

However, wave and tidal energy projects are being seen as more difficult due to their effects on sea life. The Sequim lab is currently studying the potential effects of the Snohomish Public Utility District's tidal energy project slated to begin operating in Admiralty Inlet in 2012.

According to the report the lab has yet to draw any conclusions.

Researchers say Admiralty Inlet ideal candidate for tidal projects

After two years of monitoring and research, oceanographers at the University of Washington say Admiralty Inlet, a strait connecting the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound in Washington State, is an ideal site for a tidal power pilot project, according to KOMO News.

The ideal setting comes down to the area's top water speeds of eight knots and the fact that there is minimal marine life.

These characteristics make it perfectly suited for Snohomish County Public Utility District (SCPUD) to place two 30-foot turbines 200 feet below the surface, UW oceanographer Jim Thomson said.
"We think it's a good site, and we think it's the right place to do a pilot project," Thomson said to KOMO News.

The turbines generate enough electricity to power 100 homes by harnessing the power of the tidal waters that flow in and out of the inlet every day. The turbines are expected to be installed by 2013.
"The results of this pilot project will help decide if this is an industry that has potential for going forward at the commercial scale, or if it stops at the pilot stage," Brian Polagye, UW research assistant professor of mechanical engineering, said to KOMO.