Page 42: of Offshore Engineer Magazine (Feb/Mar 2013)

41 43

MAYGEN

MeyGen is planning a 400MW

Marine Renewables tidal generation project in Pentland Firth, Scotland.

The project, shown in this artist’s depiction, is one of 11 planned by the UK for the area by 2020 with a total a test turbine is pictured right capacity of 1600MW ( ). The UK has embarked on an aggressive path to develop ocean energy and is currently the world leader in the ? eld. a power plant as opposed to a in the Pentland Firth area. stronger sense of vulnerability to technology, and to my mind that Major multinational equipment high energy costs as well as wider is the big transition that has been manufacturers are diving in, buying public acceptance of climate change happening in the last 12 to 18 or investing in startup companies in than the US, says Oregon State months,” Campbell says. wave, tidal and other forms of ocean University’s Belinda Batten, energy, and that’s a big change, co-director of NNMREC with

UK initiatives Kermode says, touting EMEC’s Polagye.

US efforts remain a far cry from 14 test berths and additional Generally low US electricity work in the UK, where coordination offshore sites where many devices prices, thanks to relatively between government, industry and can be demonstrated at the same inexpensive hydropower and the academia has become a motive force time. boom in natural gas, is a market much stronger than often fractured “We have been able to act as challenge for ocean energy, adds

US funding, permitting and something of a shop window, Damian Kunko, a Washington development processes for ocean which I’m sure has helped generate lobbyist for the Ocean Renewable energy, says Polagye. con? dence,” he says. Energy Coalition. “It’s an issue of In its latest major move, the UK Within the past 18 months, cost,” he says.

created two huge marine energy Germany’s Siemens has bought Even US president Barack Obama, parks last year, one off Cornwall Marine Current Turbines. France’s who has repeatedly called for in the southwest and another off Alstom has taken control of Tidal renewable energy development, the north of Scotland, setting aside Generation. French oil major Total, recommended cutting funding for offshore waters for renewable Swiss engineering giant ABB, US water power programs by two-thirds energy development. aerospace giant Lockheed Martin in his 2013 budget, seeing wind Not far from Kermode’s of? ce and Japanese industrial giants power as a surer bet in a ? scally at EMEC, the world’s largest Kawasaki and Mitsui also have constrained world.

tidal energy project is planned in ventured into the sector.

Pentland Firth, one of the best sites Other nations are following the Optimisim anywhere for underwater turbines UK lead in ocean energy. Japan But given a growing desire for because of its dramatic tides. The has stepped up activity in the alternatives to fossil fuels and that

UK hopes to have 1600MW of tide ? eld since its Fukushima nuclear half the US population lives near and wave-generated electricity disaster forced reevaluation of the coasts, within relatively easy operating in the Firth and around its energy supply. Australia, New reach of ocean energy, there is the Orkney Islands within a decade, Zealand, South Korea, and China, reason to be optimistic, according to at a cost of more than £6 billion. seeking alternatives to fossil fuels, Trey Taylor, co-founder of Verdant ‘Our goal is still 2014 for are heavily engaged. In South Power.

installing a demonstrator array. We America, energy-short Chile, with “It’s slow going because of are hopeful of being able to build its 4300km (2700 mile), west-facing the economy, because of vested out the rest of the project before Paci? c Coast, is beginning to look at interests, but we’re getting 2020,’ says CEO Dan Pearson of opportunities. traction, we’re making progress,”

MeyGen, which plans a 400MW The effort could still falter in Taylor says. “It is slower than installation, the largest of the US, which differs in key ways. we wish it would be, but it’s 11 projects given government leases The UK is an island nation, has a inevitable.”

OE | February 2013 oedigital.com 44 oe_renewables.indd 44 31/01/2013 10:45