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Sean Snyder

Installation of Sea Gen Tidal Turbines to generate 1.2 MW of Electricity

Off the coast of Northern Ireland in the Strangford Lough, Marine Current Turbines Ltd is implementing the third and final test for its tidal stream turbines. This third stage of testing is called Sea Gen and is proposed to generate 1.2 MW of electricity per station. The proposed technology uses the force of predictable tidal currents to spin rotors and drive turbines. The turbines have specific criteria for optimal energy production, including a flow velocity of 4.5 to 5 knots, and a depth of 30 to 40m.

Similar to wind powered technology, these turbines harness natural energy and transform it into electricity. Also similar to wind powered technology, there are opponents to the generators sighting impact to the environment. However, according to the Marine Current Turbines, ltd website, “rotor speeds are low enough to enable marine wild life to avoid being harmed by it.”

This latest installation has been postponed from its intended August 2007 date due to complications with the third party A2Sea, operators of the offshore marine installation barge the Jumping Jack. A2Sea has a history of installing wind turbines over the past few years which seems to have transitioned them into this project.