Second generation tidal turbines launched at Oxford University

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Second generation tidal turbines launched at Oxford University

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Thursday, 11 September 2008 16:55

A second-generation tidal turbine has been developed by a group of researchers at Oxford University which, they say, has the potential to harness tidal energy more efficiently and cheaply than previous systems. The team, which 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, has 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 which sasy the team makes it simpler, more robust and scaleable than current designs. 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.

Isis Innovation, the University’s technology transfer company, has patented the turbine device and is currently looking for investors and development partners.

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Last Updated on Thursday, 11 September 2008 16:59