Renewable energy developer Current2Current Ltd has confirmed that their prototype recently started with producing electricity in the North Sea enabling the company to move ever closer to securing its future as a renewable energy production company.
Generating electricity from ocean currents and tides, the TEC (tidal energy converter) is a working prototype using the kinetic energy in moving water, transforming it into useful electricity.
Testing of the TEC1 took place offshore Blyth in Northumberland at the National Renewable Energy Centre (NAREC). The results produced during the testing were exactly as predicted and have encouraged the company to begin work shortly on TEC4, a 4m diameter fully working device.
Founded in 2007 by Brian Barnard, managing director and Mike Hoyle, technical director, the company has grown substantially from its early beginnings and now has several people working on making its future bright and sustainable. Commenting on the recent test results, Brian Barnard said: “We are all very pleased with the recent results which have fuelled our enthusiasm to start work on the next TEC, a fully working device which will ultimately be connected up to the grid.
“We believe C2C is well placed to become a market leader in the production of renewable electricity as our technology has several distinct advantages over existing competition.”
Despite the challenges faced by renewable energy developers, the way forward for C2C is looking extremely positive. Having successfully produced electricity from their 1.75m prototype, a 4m TEC, to be used for the supply of independent subsea power in remote conditions, will be developed during 2014. This will be closely followed by a 12m unit, sized to supply power on a national scale with an array of 3 x 12m units being installed as a single output system.
“We are getting closer each day to reaching our goal in assisting to bridge the predicted energy gap, whilst reducing the nation’s carbon emissions,” concluded Brian .
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Press release, October 30, 2013; Image: current2current