Oxford turbines to harvest energy from tides
5th September 2008
Oxford researchers have developed a second-generation tidal turbine, which has the potential to more efficiently and cheaply harness tidal energy, using a device which is simpler and more robust and scaleable than current designs.
The team includes Prof Guy Houlsby, Professor of Civil Engineering at Oxford, Dr Malcolm McCulloch of the electrical power group, and Prof Martin Oldfield from mechanical engineering . They have designed, built and tested the device, a horizontal axis water turbine, to intersect the largest possible area of current. The rota is cylindrical and rolls around its axis, catching the current.
A prototype 0.5 meter diameter turbine has already performed well in tests, proving the benefits of the blade design. A full-scale device would measure up to 10 meters in diameter, and a series of turbines can be chained together across a tidal channel.
The team has calculated that a tidal site 1 kilometre in width could produce 60MW of energy.
The turbine is mechanically far less complicated than anything available today, and requires fewer generators and foundations, meaning it will cost less to build and maintain. The manufacturing costs are about 60 per cent lower and the maintenance costs are 40 per cent lower than current tidal devices.
By 2009 the team plan to conduct sea trials in open water, leading to a full commercial scale up by 2013.
The UK is estimated to have 10 per cent of the global extractable tidal resource. Tidal currents are sub-surface, so tidal turbines have minimum visual impact, unlike wind farms or estuary barrage schemes.
Isis Innovation, the University’s technology transfer company, has patented the turbine device and welcomes contact from investors and development partners.
For more information:
Dr Stuart Wilkinson
Project Manager, Isis Innovation Ltd
E: Stuart.Wilkinson@isis.ox.ac.uk
T: +44 (0) 1865 280907
F: +44 (0) 1865 280831