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Alstom teams up with GDF Suez to equip the raz Blanchard tidal power pilot farm

September 30, 2013 in Environment, EV News, Greentech, Ocean / Tidal Energy

Ocean Tidal turbine installation in Orkney, Scotland Photo courtesy of Alstom

Ocean Tidal turbine installation in Orkney, Scotland
Photo courtesy of Alstom

Alstom and GDF Suez will prepare a common project to respond to the call for expressions of interest for pilot tidal farms announced today by the French President, François Hollande in Cherbourg. Jérôme Pécresse, Alstom’s Renewable Power President and Gérard Mestrallet, CEO of GDF Suez, signed a cooperation agreement concerning this, in the Lower Normandy Region in France.

As part of this cooperation, Alstom and GDF Suez will establish the various technical parameters to harness effectively the marine currents at the raz Blanchard site, where the pilot farms will be installed, near the port of Cherbourg coast. The partners will also propose an operation and maintenance strategy for the pilot farm, as well as a roadmap to maximise the positive socio-economic benefits of this new activity throughout the region and the country. This is an important step to support the development of larger commercial farms.

Alstom is successfully testing its 1 MW tidal turbine under EMEC[1] waters, off Scotland’s Orkney Islands. The turbine has reached the full nominal power of 1 MW, generating over 10 MWh of electricity on the grid. Trials performed in pilot farms will test the performance of the turbine under real operating conditions.

Alstom will also sign an agreement today with Ports Normands Associés (PNA) which could allow the Group to perform the final assembly of the turbines, the erection of the foundations and all maintenance operations from Cherbourg, if it is awarded the raz Blanchard pilot farms. The port offers many benefits, including, in particular, a development plan covering 40 hectares for infrastructure devoted to tidal power, as well as the proximity of the raz Blanchard site and the British coastline, which represents a substantial potential market.

Signing this agreement will bolster the port’s’ development strategy in marine energy” said Laurent Beauvais, Chairman of the Lower Normandy Region, and of the Council of the Mixed Ports Association of Caen-Ouistreham and Cherbourg (PNA).

We are pleased to team up with GDF Suez for the development of  the raz Blanchard tidal power pilot farm. We will provide a reliable, environmentally-friendly and efficient technology which will help to deliver power at an optimal cost. Moreover, signing today  an agreement with PNA to reserve spaces on the port of Cherbourg, we could thus be in a position to develop synergies with our two future offshore wind plants ” declared Jérôme Pécresse, Alstom’s Renewable Power President.

This article is a repost, credit: Alstom.

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Major developments for Wave and Tidal industries

September 18, 2013 in Environment, EV News, Greentech, Ocean / Tidal Energy

Artist Impression of Site Image courtesy of MeyGen Ltd.

Artist Impression of Site
Image courtesy of MeyGen Ltd.

RenewableUK today (9-16-13) welcomed news that MeyGen Ltd. has been awarded consent by the Scottish Government for an 86 Megawatt tidal energy project, following the completion of the statutory approval process with the regulator Marine Scotland.

Located in the Pentland Firth, off the north coast of Scotland, this project has the potential to generate up to 398 Megawatts of clean electricity and power thousands of homes. It is also set to be the biggest tidal stream site in Europe and maintain the UK’s place as the world leader in tidal technology. The first phase of the project will see 6 tidal turbines commissioned in the inner sound of the Pentland Firth, enabling this exciting technology to mature, before the subsequent phases take the project up to the consented limit of 86MW and beyond to the leased capacity of 398 Megawatt. A recent study by Oxford University noted that the Pentland Firth could generate 1.9 Gigawatts of clean electricity.

Pelamis Wave Device Photo courtesy of RenewableUK

Pelamis Wave Device
Photo courtesy of RenewableUK

Also today the Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing MSP announced that Wave developers Aquamarine Power Limited and Pelamis Wave Power are to share a slice of a GBP13 million wave “first array” support programme, part of the Scottish Government’s Marine Renewables Commercialisation Fund.

David Krohn, Wave and Tidal Manager at RenewableUK said: “Today’s two announcements show that both wave and tidal technologies are developing at a rapid rate are set to make a real contribution to the electricity needs both of Scotland and the UK.

“MeyGen’s consent approval is a truly monumental milestone for the industry as it is far and away the largest marine energy consent ever achieved. The inner sound of the Pentland Firth is one of the most promising sites in the world to develop tidal energy projects and it is heartening to see the project progressing towards installation.

“The award of £13million to the world’s two leading wave energy companies, Aquamarine and Pelamis, is welcome boost to the industry in Scotland. The Scottish Government has once again demonstrated its desire to turn Scotland into the world’s leading renewable energy economy. It is no surprise that the Scottish Government is such a staunch supporter of the wave energy industry, given the high level of local content in these two pioneering companies’ activities and the immense potential they have for creating jobs and boosting manufacturing opportunities.”

  • More information on MeyGen’s Pentland Firth project can be found here: http://www.meygen.com/
  • See more information about Aquamarine Power limited here: http://www.aquamarinepower.com/
  • See more on Pelamis Wave Power here: http://www.pelamiswave.com/
  • See here for more information about the Oxford University study: http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_stories/2013/130710.html

This article is a repost, credit: RenewableUK.

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Memorandum of Understanding signed between Alstom and Scottish Power Renewables for tidal power devices

September 17, 2013 in Environment, EV News, Ocean / Tidal Energy

Tidal Power Scotland Photo courtesy of Alstom

Tidal Power Scotland
Photo courtesy of Alstom

Alstom and ScottishPower Renewables have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to incorporate Alstom’s tidal power devices within the Sound of Islay project.

The tidal array, between the islands of Islay and Jura on the west coast of Scotland, will include up to four of Alstom’s 1 MW tidal devices, one of which is currently on test at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney. The new development is expected to result in the Sound of Islay project becoming the largest tidal array in the world capable of generating up 10 MW of electricity in total, when fully operational.

Simon Christian, UK Managing Director at Scottish Power Renewables said: “The addition of Alstom to the Islay project signals major benefits for the future growth of the tidal energy sector. Islay will now permit the two leading tidal power technologies to be proven side by side and to take them both to the point of commercialisation. This move further cements Islay’s credentials as the world’s leading marine energy project, and by ensuring that the two leading technologies are developed in Scottish waters it considerably strengthens Scotland’s global lead in this sector.”

Tidal Power Scotland Photo courtesy of Alstom

Tidal Power Scotland
Photo courtesy of Alstom

The Islay programme remains on schedule for the first unit to be deployed in late 2015, with full site deployment during 2016. Operations are planned for 25 years and the demonstration project is anticipated to be the launch pad for future larger scale sites around the Scottish coast, with ScottishPower Renewables working on plans for a potential 95MW tidal project off the north coast of Caithness at Duncansby.

“We’re delighted to be working with Scottish Power Renewables on the Sound of Islay project which allows us to demonstrate the effectiveness of our technology, in Islay tidal environment. We believe the potential for tidal power in the UK is huge and, with our turbine, we have the ability to help our customers make the best of that potential,” stated Alstom Ocean business Vice-President Rob Stevenson.

ScottishPower Renewables applied to Marine Scotland to build the Sound of Islay project In July 2010 and, after determination, consent was received in March 2011. The company is committed to working with its community partner, the Islay Energy Trust (IET), to maximise the social and economic benefits of the project for the local community. This includes identifying opportunities for local businesses and liaising with stakeholders to minimise impacts.

Alstom’s tidal turbine consists of a three-bladed, pitch-controlled rotor, with a diameter measuring 18 metres; a standard drive-train and power electronics inside the nacelle. The 22m long nacelle is installed onto a separate seabed-mounted foundation and weighs less than 150 tonnes.

This tidal stream turbine has a number of notable features: First, it is simple, and easy to transport. Its buoyancy means that it is easily installed and retrieved in a single tidal cycle using small vessels, reducing installation and maintenance costs. Secondly, it has an intelligent nacelle.

Thrusters rotate the nacelle to reflect the direction of the tide, managing ebb and flood tides seamlessly as well as maximising energy production. Thirdly, with its efficient blades, turbine blade pitching can be altered to control load on the turbine and optimise use of the tidal conditions locally.

This article is a repost, credit: Alstom.

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Japanese Delegation at UMaine for Marine Energy International Symposium

September 15, 2013 in Environment, EV News, Greentech, Ocean / Tidal Energy

Congressman Mike Michaud (Maine) Photo courtesy of Mike Michaud

Congressman Mike Michaud (Maine)
Photo courtesy of Mike Michaud

An 11-member delegation of scientists and industry officials from Japan, including the president of Hirosaki University, will be at the University of Maine Sept. 16–18 for the second Marine Energy International Symposium.

UMaine President Paul Ferguson and Hirosaki University President Kei Sato will open the symposium, designed to be a collaborative exchange between researchers in the Maine Tidal Power Initiative, based at UMaine, and various Japanese institutions.

Also expected to be on hand are U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud, and representatives from the Governor’s Office and Ocean Renewable Power Company.

Highlights of the three-day visit include a presentation by Tetsuo Yuhara, research director of the Tokyo-based Canon Institute for Global Studies, focusing on Japan’s marine energy development; and UMaine and other researchers of the Maine Tidal Power Initiative, including director Michael Peterson, discussing the status of ocean energy development in the state.

The Japanese delegation also is expected to travel to Eastport to visit Ocean Renewable Power Company’s generation site.

Last year, the first symposium involved several UMaine researchers traveling to Japan to discuss tidal power development and potential research opportunities in Maine and Aomori Prefecture. Maine and the prefecture have similar geography, climate and industrial structure, and a common interest in ocean energy development.

In addition to research collaboration, symposium participants are exploring the potential of student exchange programs involving ocean renewable energy research.

This article is a repost, credit: The University of Maine, http://www.umaine.edu/.

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New project to harness energy of NYC’s East River

September 8, 2013 in Environment, EV News, Greentech, Ocean / Tidal Energy

University of Minnesota and Verdant Power to lead new effort that advances research, innovation and training

Developed around the nation’s first federally licensed installation of a commercial tidal power turbine system array in New York City’s East River, the overall goal of the new public-private project is to promote the growing marine and hydrokinetic industry while ensuring environmental compatibility. Photo credit: Verdant Power. Courtesy of University of Minnesota.

Developed around the nation’s first federally licensed installation of a commercial tidal power turbine system array in New York City’s East River, the overall goal of the new public-private project is to promote the growing marine and hydrokinetic industry while ensuring environmental compatibility. Photo credit: Verdant Power.
Courtesy of University of Minnesota.

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (09/04/2013) —A new collaboration between industry and academia is set to harness the energy of New York City’s East River. The University of Minnesota’s St. Anthony Falls Laboratory announced the launch of a new project that will advance research, innovation and training in marine and hydrokinetic technology, an emerging renewable energy that harnesses the power of rivers, tides and waves.

Developed around the nation’s first federally licensed installation of a commercial tidal power turbine system array—the Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) Project in New York City’s East River—the effort combines the University of Minnesota St. Anthony Falls Laboratory’s cutting-edge computational modeling and experimental techniques with the industry expertise and unique field facilities of RITE Project lead, Verdant Power, Inc. (New York, NY), and the materials science and manufacturing strengths of Energetx Composites, Inc. (Holland, MI). The project is funded by a two-year, $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, through its Partnerships for Innovation: Building Innovation Capacity program.

The overall goal of the project is to promote the growing marine and hydrokinetic industry by enhancing the performance and resilience of the technologies used while ensuring environmental compatibility. In addition, the project aims to build the marine and hydrokinetic technology workforce through the development and pilot of technological and entrepreneurial curriculum in a four-year hydrology degree program at tribal college, Salish Kootenai College (Pablo, MT).

“This project will enable St. Anthony Falls Laboratory research to help industry partners succeed in developing a very high-profile marine and hydrokinetic resource, one that will supply renewable electricity to New York City,” said Fotis Sotiropoulos, the project leader and director of the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory who is James L. Record professor of civil engineering in the University of Minnesota’s College of Science and Engineering. “This partnership strategically positions our St. Anthony Falls Lab to spearhead the development and growth of marine and hydrokinetic renewable energy technology to support the national goal of 80 percent of U.S. electricity produced from clean energy sources by 2035.”

Researchers at the University of Minnesota St. Anthony Falls Laboratory will develop a high-performance computing simulation toolbox to provide industry partners an in-depth understanding of how turbines perform in and interact with real-life aquatic environments. Combining high-resolution simulations of turbine interactions in complex flow environments and aquatic ecosystems with site-specific water flow, streambed and ecosystem data from the RITE Project installation, researchers will use massively parallel supercomputers to: 1) design and test the next generation of marine and hydrokinetic turbine rotor blades for reliable and efficient operation; and 2) optimize the layout of Verdant’s pilot-scale 30-turbine, 1.05MW array at the East River site.

“This unique partnership brings together forward-thinking research and innovation around tidal and river current energy opportunities for the U.S.,” said Dean Corren, Director of Technology, Verdant Power, Inc. “The tools produced at SAFL allow us to make significant strides toward enhancing the technology for widespread commercial application.”

Outcomes from the project support the RITE Project pilot deployment and help to promote industry development, expand the U.S. renewable energy portfolio, and accelerate the deployment of marine and hydrokinetic technologies throughout the nation and world. The educational component of the project is anticipated to serve as a model for implementation in other communities to enhance educational opportunities and produce the next generation of professionals for the marine and hydrokinetic industry.

In addition to Sotiropoulos, other University of Minnesota faculty members who are lead researchers on this project include Michele Guala, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory and Department of Civil Engineering and Henryk Stolarski, Department of Civil Engineering.

Learn more about SAFL’s marine and hydrokinetic energy research at http://z.umn.edu/tidalpower.

This article is a repost, credit: University of Minnesota, http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/index.html.

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Carnegie Signs Cooperation Agreement with Water Corporation

September 2, 2013 in Environment, EV News, Greentech, Ocean / Tidal Energy

  • Carnegie’s Perth Wave Energy Project to produce both power and freshwater
  • Cooperation Agreement with Water Corporation to support desalination pilot
  • Carnegie’s pilot will be first wave powered desalination plant in world
Image courtesy of CIA

Image courtesy of CIA

Wave energy developer, Carnegie Wave Energy Limited (ASX:CWE), announced the signing of a Cooperation Agreement with the Water Corporation of Western Australia to support Carnegie’s ground breaking wave powered desalination pilot plant.

The Cooperation Agreement allows the Water Corporation to provide support to Carnegie for its wave powered seawater desalination pilot plant. The wave powered desalination pilot, which forms part of Carnegie’s Perth Wave Energy Project, will be the first wave powered desalination project in the world. It will be located on Garden Island, Western Australia, home to Australia’s largest naval base, HMAS Stirling.

The Water Corporation is globally recognised as a leader in seawater desalination. It built the first large scale, mainland desalination plant in Australia in 2006, the Perth Seawater Desalination Plant, located in Kwinana, south of Perth which produces 45 billion litres of fresh drinking water a year. Earlier this year, construction of the Water Corporation’s second mainland desalination plant, the Southern Seawater Desalination Plant, located south of Perth at Binningup, was completed, which has the capacity to , supply 100 billion litres of freshwater to Perth. Combined, both plants are able to supply approximately half of Perth’s drinking water needs.

Carnegie’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Dr Michael Ottaviano, said:

“We are pleased to have the support of the Water Corporation with our project. Water Corporation are innovators in the field of seawater desalination and Carnegie’s wave powered desalination pilot will be a world first.”

The Water Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Sue Murphy, said:

“Seawater desalination is an important part of Perth’s long term water supply solution and we are focused on minimising the environmental footprint of our desalination operations. Carnegie’s wave powered seawater desalination technology offers a novel and promising approach to achieving desalinated freshwater with zero greenhouse gas emissions.”

The CETO desalination pilot will be co-located with Carnegie’s Perth Wave Energy Project on Garden Island, integrating off-the-shelf reverse osmosis desalination technology with the Perth Project’s infrastructure. Key tasks ahead of construction of the desalination pilot plant include completing detailed design, securing environmental approvals and the potential integration of the construction and commissioning of the desalination pilot into the delivery of Perth Wave Energy Project. The latter will be cost effective as it will allow both projects to be constructed at the same time and then commissioned sequentially. The desalination pilot project is supported by $1.27m in Federal Government grant funding from AusIndustry’s Clean Technology Innovation Program.

About Carnegie

Carnegie Wave Energy Limited is an Australian, ASX-listed (ASX:CWE) wave energy technology developer. Carnegie is the 100% owner and developer of the CETO Wave Energy Technology intellectual property.

About CETO

The CETO system is different from other wave energy devices because it operates under water and is anchored to the ocean floor. Several fully submerged buoys are tethered to seabed pump units. The buoys move with the motion of the passing waves and drive pumps. The pumps pressurise water which is delivered onshore via an underwater pipe.

On the shore, high-pressure water is used to drive hydroelectric turbines, generating zero-emission electricity. The high-pressure water can also be used to supply a reverse osmosis desalination plant, replacing or reducing the reliance on greenhouse gas-emitting, electrically-driven pumps usually required for such plants.

CETO technology characteristics include:

  • Converts ocean wave energy into zero-emission electricity and desalinated water.
  • Environmentally friendly, has minimal visual impact and attracts marine life.
  • Fully-submerged in deep water, away from breaking waves and beachgoers, and unaffected by storms.

Perth Wave Energy Project (‘PWEP’) Fact File:

  • Upon completion, PWEP will be Australia’s first commercial-scale CETO grid-connected wave energy project.
  • The project is supported by $13.1m in Australian Government funding through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s Emerging Renewables Program.
  • PWEP is supported by $7.3 million from the Government of Western Australia’s Low Emissions Energy Development (LEED) Fund. This is part of a larger $10 million LEED grant, awarded to Carnegie by the Western Australian Government, to support the development of the CETO technology from concept through to completion of PWEP.
  • The Desalination Pilot is supported by a $1.27m AusIndustry grant from the Clean Technology Innovation Program.
  • Utilising Carnegie’s fully submerged and commercial proven CETO wave energy device.
  • Providing clean, renewable energy to Australia’s largest naval base, HMAS Stirling, on Garden Island in Western Australia.
  • Providing potable desalinated water.

This article is a repost (ASX press release 8-27-13), credit: Carnegie Wave Energy, http://www.carnegiewave.com/.

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Ocean Power Technologies Deploys Autonomous PowerBuoy Under U.S. Department of Homeland Security Program

August 30, 2013 in Environment, EV News, Ocean / Tidal Energy

PENNINGTON, N.J., Aug. 21, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTT) (“OPT” or “the Company”) today announced the deployment off New Jersey of its innovative autonomous wave energy device, marking an important milestone in the roll-out of the Company’s Autonomous PowerBuoy® (“APB”) product line. 25th Annual Roth Capital Conference Presentation

This latest deployment, 35 miles off the coast and in 43 meters of water depth, is in connection with a previously-announced Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (“CRADA”) with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) Science & Technology Directorate (“S&T”). Under this program, the Company will perform in-ocean tests on its proprietary APB to further validate the technology’s capacity for expanded ocean surveillance.

The DHS S&T Borders and Maritime Security Division are collaborating with OPT to demonstrate the effectiveness of its long duration maritime vessel detection platform. This involves the redeployment of an OPT-designed APB-350 Autonomous PowerBuoy that was previously deployed under the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Expeditionary Autonomous PowerBuoy (“LEAP”) program in 2011. At that time, the unit produced very positive results, including higher-than-predicted power harvesting capability and in-ocean survivability during Hurricane Irene and its 50-foot high waves.

In tandem with the CRADA, OPT was awarded a grant from the Maryland Technology Development Corporation (“MTDC”) via a joint technology transfer initiative to show how the Autonomous PowerBuoy can be used with multiple surveillance technologies. OPT is leveraging its experience from the LEAP program, which featured HF radar capability for surface vessel detection, to demonstrate an enhanced tracking technology covering a wider variety of vessels. The application includes an acoustic sensor system in addition to the existing HF Radar. This will allow the PowerBuoy to collect data for surface and sub-surface ocean observing and surveillance duties, demonstrating the use of the PowerBuoy technology for dual detection capabilities. This APB-350 PowerBuoy provides power levels required for sophisticated vessel detection and tracking sensors, enabling persistent off-shore maritime surveillance in the near-coast, harbors and littoral zones worldwide.

“Our engineering, manufacturing and marine operations teams have done an excellent job with this latest launch of the APB-350 Autonomous PowerBuoy,” said Charles F. Dunleavy, Chief Executive Officer of OPT. “The advanced maritime security payload of sonar and radar sensors and the data communications system provide our customers with an expanded vessel detection capability, which we believe to be a significant market opportunity for the APB-350 product. We are pleased to leverage the work previously done for the U.S. Navy, through this CRADA from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and grant from MTDC.”

The APB-350 structure incorporates a unique power take-off and on-board energy storage system and is significantly smaller and more compact than the Company’s standard utility PowerBuoy. It provides persistent, off-grid clean energy in remote ocean locations for a wide variety of maritime security and monitoring applications and has also been designed to generate power for off-grid applications such as offshore oil & gas operations and fish-farming.

Currently, systems requiring remote energy sources at sea are often powered by diesel generators, which can be damaging to the environment, and need frequent maintenance and fuel replenishment. The APB-350 was developed by OPT to provide constant power in all wave conditions, while maintaining a fixed ocean site position. The Company’s proprietary power management technology and on-board energy storage capability are key innovations of the system enabling operation even during periods of calm sea conditions. In addition, the system has been engineered to remain on site for up to three years with minimal maintenance.

About Ocean Power Technologies

Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:OPTT) is a pioneer in wave-energy technology that harnesses ocean wave resources to generate reliable and clean and environmentally-beneficial electricity. OPT has a strong track record in the advancement of wave energy and participates in an estimated $150 billion annual power generation equipment market. OPT’s proprietary PowerBuoy® system is based on modular, ocean-going buoys that capture and convert predictable wave energy into clean electricity. The Company is widely recognized as a leading developer of on-grid and autonomous wave-energy generation systems, benefiting from more than 15 years of in-ocean experience. OPT is headquartered in Pennington, New Jersey, USA with an office in Warwick, UK and operations in Melbourne and Perth, Australia. More information can be found at www.oceanpowertechnologies.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain “forward-looking statements” that are within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current expectations about its future plans and performance, including statements concerning the impact of marketing strategies, new product introductions and innovation, deliveries of product, sales, earnings and margins. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions and estimates which could be inaccurate and which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could vary materially from those anticipated or expressed in any forward-looking statement made by the Company. Please refer to the Company’s most recent Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a further discussion of these risks and uncertainties. The Company disclaims any obligation or intent to update the forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release.

This article is a repost, credit: Ocean Power Technologies, www.oceanpowertechnologies.com.