Siemens Mechanical Drives has supplied pioneering tidal technology company Tidal Energy Limited (TEL) with gear units that will be part of the DeltaStream tidal stream generating device due to go on a 12-month trial in Ramsey Sound early in 2014. It will be Wales’ first commercial-scale turbine.
The three Siemens gear units were recently successfully tested in Germany prior to coming to the UK ready for the sea trials.
The DeltaStream device initially comprises three independent 400kW turbines in a triangular pod formation. It sits on the sea bed under its own weight, without requiring drilling or piling, and generates power during both the ebb and flow of the tide, as the units turn with the tidal flow. Electrical and control equipment is mounted on the baseframe with a power conversion centre and SCADA system situated onshore.
During its forthcoming trial in Ramsey Sound electricity generated will be fed into the local distribution network, helping to contribute towards the Welsh Government’s renewable energy targets. Following deployment, TEL will scale up the turbine to its full 1.2MW power capacity later in 2014 or early in 2015.
Des Walsh of Siemens said: “We’re delighted to be supplying Tidal Energy Limited with our gear units. The UK is leading the world in tidal technology and we’re very much involved in supporting and partnering companies like TEL to help drive forward the Government’s renewable energy targets.”
For Tidal Energy Limited, engineering manager Peter Bromley commented: “Having proven Siemens technology in our DeltaStream devices gives us further reassurance of reliability and consistent performance. We’re all looking forward to the Ramsey Sound trial and are sure it will lead to further installations in due course.”
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Press release, June 06, 2013; Image: tidalenergyltd