Earlier this year we reported on the exciting developments
taking place with wave
energy converters near Scotland as scientists and renewable energy
innovators harnessed the awesome energy capability from the oceans and waves in
that part of the world.
Now, in a similar part of northern Europe, two companies have
just been given the green light to install major tidal kite systems in the
Faroe Islands - a self-governing archipelago in the North Atlantic, part of the
Kingdom of Denmark, comprising of 18 jagged volcanic islands in the rough seas between
Iceland and Norway – which could have a significant impact on the local
electricity mix.
Leading
marine energy developer Minesto and the Faroese electric utility company
SEV (who in February of this year signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) together
to collaborate on integrating tidal energy into the Faroese electricity mix) were
recently granted the necessary approvals that cover two DG100 tidal kite system
will be installed in the Vestmannasund strait of the Faroe Islands.
Minesto’s marine energy technology, called Deep Green, generates electricity
from low-flow tidal streams and ocean currents by a unique and patented
principle similar to a stunt kite flying in the wind.
According
to a report published by Minesto, it’s estimated that it could be possible
to utilise the equivalent of 150–200MW installed capacity for tidal stream
energy production in the Faroe Islands. SEV stated that the inherent
predictability of tidal stream energy gives it an advantage over less predictable
renewable energy sources.
An added geographical advantage for this project,
highlighted by Minesto, is the time difference between peak flows in the
different sounds between the country’s 18 major islands. This means that by
installing tidal turbines at different locations, tidal energy is always
available to enable renewable baseload power from the ocean.
To implement the project, Minesto was granted public funding
of approximately €3.5 million through the European Union’s EIC Accelerator and
the Swedish Energy Agency for the Vestmannasund project and the development of
the DG100 marine energy converter.
Closer to home there remains significant challenges in tidal
energy technology, innovation and investment in this country. Prior
analysis by ARENA stated that Australia is home to some of the largest
tides in the world with the capacity to make a significant contribution to
Australia’s future energy mix. However, ARENA further states that knowledge of
Australia’s tidal resource, its spatial extent and technical implementation
remain insufficient for the tidal energy industry, regulators, policy makers
and research community to make any assessment of their risks for investment in
potential projects.
As more is learned from global innovators in northern Europe
and elsewhere, and the technology continues to advance, the potential for tidal
energy to contribute to Australia’s energy mix could one day be as vast and
abundant as the seas themselves.
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