News: Pulse Tidal sinks into liquidation

Pulse Tidal, a high-tech firm that developed its innovative underwater energy generation technology on the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP) in Rotherham, has gone into liquidation.

One of the first companies to move into the then called EETC in 2007, the pioneering company raised equity from local incubator funds and successfully developed a prototype system whereby tidal streams move horizontal blades up and down to drive a generator.

In 2009 Pulse Tidal saw the first fully predictable electricity generated by tidal power in shallow waters come ashore with a prototype pulse generator installed at Immingham Dock capable of generating up to 0.15MW.

The firm, established by chief technology officer, Marc Paish and commercial director Howard Nimmo secured funds for the prototype from IT Power, Marubeni Europe plc, Shell Springboard, LIFE-IC and The Viking Fund, as well as Yorkshire Forward and was all set for a bright future when it lead a successful bid for €8m from the EU's technology research and development fund (Framework Programme 7) to enable the company to begin work on developing its first fully commercial tidal energy generator.

Alongside this finance, the company signed contracts with a group of international companies to develop the commercial device and form a secure supply chain for volume production.

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Moving to offices at the Electric Works in Sheffield, the company even secured a lease for an area of seabed near to Lynmouth in Devon with plans to deploy a 1.2MW tidal power generating machine - England's largest - in 2014, following consultation, environmental studies and permitting.

Now Pulse Tidal and its parent company, Pulse Group Holdings Ltd, have appointed Sarah Long and Antony Denham, both of DL Partnership LLP, as joint liquidators.

Another AMP-based energy firm, ITI Energy Ltd, a pioneering company that has been developing advanced gasification technology, was bought out of administration last year.

Pulse Tidal website

Images: Pulse Tidal

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News: €8m EU grant enables Pulse Tidal to develop commercial tidal energy system

Pulse Tidal, based on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham is to receive a grant of €8 million from the EU's technology research and development fund (Framework Programme 7) to enable the company to begin work immediately on developing its first fully commercial tidal energy generator.

This 1MW generator will be commissioned in 2012 and will provide electricity for up to 1,000 homes.

Alongside this finance, the company has signed contracts with a group of international companies to develop the commercial device and form a secure supply chain for volume production.

The project team brings together all of the skills needed to develop and supply the commercial Pulse product: Bosch Rexroth for hydraulics, Herbosch Kiere for installation, DNV for certification, IT Power for engineering, Niestern Sander for construction, the Fraunhofer IWES for control and electrical systems and Gurit for composites.

The pioneering company has successfully developed a prototype system whereby tidal streams move horizontal blades up and down to drive a generator. This 100kW test rig in the Humber estuary currently feeds power into a chemicals company on the banks of the river.

Pulse chief executive Bob Smith said: "We have developed an economic way to recover predictable, renewable energy from the tides and are entering a young market predicted to be worth at least £6billion annually in electricity sales.

"The investment market has shown great excitement about our progress to date and I am delighted now to formalise the excellent relationship we have built up with our supply-chain partners. Combined with our own experienced staff this is a truly world-class team, which will deliver our low cost, low risk tidal power product to market in 2012.

"In the future tidal energy is set to surpass wind as the most economic and predictable source of offshore power."

The EU grant has been awarded to the team of Pulse and its seven supply chain partners to fund 50% of the development of Pulse's full-scale commercial generator. The remaining 50% will be provided by private investment.

Smith added: "With a very experienced team, proven technology and this €8m grant, we have all the ingredients to deliver a step-change in tidal power economics.

"We are negotiating the location for our first full-scale 1MW project, providing power for up to 1,000 homes. This will begin operation in 2012."

Pulse Tidal website
Rotherham

Images: pulsegeneration.co.uk

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News: Pulse Tidal generates success

The first fully predictable electricity generated by tidal power in shallow waters is now coming ashore on the banks of the Humber.

Pulse Tidal, based at the AMP in Rotherham, has developed the prototype pulse generator which is capable of generating up to 0.15MW.

It was commissioned in May in the Humber estuary's shallow waters off Immingham Dock. It is now feeding electricity into Millennium Inorganic Chemicals on the south bank of the Humber, making MIC the first UK company to take a direct feed from tidal power.

The Humber prototype system, in which tidal streams move horizontal blades up and down to drive a generator, has shown it can harness enough energy to power 70 homes.

Pulse is now engineering a much larger device that will deliver the lowest lifetime cost of power from tidal streams thanks to its reliability and its straightforward installation and maintenance.

Pulse chief executive Bob Smith says: "The last few months of operation have shown that the Pulse concept offers an economic way to recover predictable, renewable energy from the tides.

"Pulse's first device has opened up shallow water resources close to shore for direct connection to end users. Our next device will be much larger, providing power for around 1,000 homes. It will be able to operate in a wide range of water depths, but we will focus initially on the shallow sites since they offer lower cost and are less complex.

We are currently negotiating the location for our first full-scale project, which will begin operation in 2012."

Howard Nimmo, commercial director, added: "We have been supported by a number of investors, including IT Power, Marubeni Europe plc, LIFE-IC and The Viking Fund, as well as by Government grants. Generating power in the Humber is a significant milestone for the company that has enabled us to raise additional finance from our current partners."

Pulse Tidal website
Rotherham

Images: pulsegeneration.co.uk / itpower.co.uk

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News: BP chief development officer becomes CEO of Pulse Tidal

Former BP Solar chief development officer Bob Smith has been appointed chief executive officer of Pulse Tidal.



Based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, the tidal stream energy provider specialises in sourcing energy from shallow waters. Pulse currently has a 100kW test rig in the Humber.

A chartered engineer, Bob Smith began his career in the energy industry in 1990.He held a number of commercial and operational leadership roles in BP's offshore oil and gas business' before joining BP Solar in 2006. He holds an engineering degree from Cambridge University and a Masters in Management from Stanford University.

Bob Smith said: "I am delighted to join Pulse at this exciting stage. The team has a great track record, raising over £2m to date and building a prototype in the Humber estuary, near Hull.

"With our unique technology, we are able to install tidal power machines in shallow water sites, close to electricity consumers. This reduces cost and complexity dramatically and we are confident that it will allow us to make tidal power a commercial reality very quickly."

Pulse Tidal website
Rotherham

Images: pulsegeneration.co.uk

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News: Pulse Tidal project installed in Humber Estuary

Pulse Tidal's energy generator is now fully assembled and undergoing commissioning and testing in the Humber Estuary.



The company based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham has developed the prototype pulse generator which is capable of generating up to 0.15MW.

The Pulse Stream 100 is the world's first grid-connected shallow-water tidal stream generator and is installed near Immingham.

The two piles were hammered into the seabed in April 2008 and main structures installed shortly afterwards. Since then the powertrain, including 4 hydrofoils, lever arms, connecting rods and gearbox-generator-control system have been finalised and assembled.

The team of engineers from Pulse Tidal Ltd, the originator of the technology; IT Power, a leading developer of marine energy devices and project co-ordinator; Econnect, partner for the control system and grid connection; and Humber Work Boats, a local company that mobilised staff and installation vessels, will now continue the testing programme through the summer, with results of the device's performance to be ready later this year.

Howard Nimmo, commercial director of Pulse Tidal Ltd said: "the installation of this device just 1 km from a large chemical works shows the importance of shallow tidal power technology in bringing power to exactly where it is needed. This project is just the start - others are now in the pipeline."

Pulse Tidal website
Rotherham

Images: Pulse Tidal / richardmelbourne.co.uk

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News: Pulse Tidal Humber project update

The Yorkshire Post report that plans to install a tidal stream energy generator in the Humber estuary are proceeding, according to the company responsible for the project. Pulse Tidal based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham have developed the prototype pulse generator which is capable of generating up to 0.15MW and will be one of the first tidal power machines to supply the national grid. If it is successful, it will be used to develop larger 1MW units which could be deployed in arrays each generating up to 100MW, enough to power the equivalent of 70,000 homes. The system has been tested successfully at Hull University and the technology works by extracting energy from tidal flows that will power a pair of straight horizontal hydrofoils, 11 metres in length, which will move up and down like a dolphin's tail. The scheme is backed by the Secretary of State for Energy, John Hutton and successfully secured around £2m from private investors, the government and European funding.
Pulse Tidal website
Life IC website
Yorkshire Post article
Rotherham

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News: Rotherham company waved ahead by government

Secretary of State for Energy, John Hutton, is set to grant planning permission for a prototype tidal stream generator to be tested in the Humber Estuary near Grimsby. Pulse Tidal based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham have developed the prototype pulse generator which is capable of generating up to 0.15MW and will be one of the first tidal power machines to supply the national grid. If it is successful, it will be used to develop larger 1MW units which could be deployed in arrays each generating up to 100MW, enough to power the equivalent of 70,000 homes. The technology works by extracting energy from underwater currents in a manner similar to wind turbines. Energy from tidal flows will power a pair of straight horizontal hydrofoils, 11 metres in length, which will move up and down like a dolphin's tail. John Hutton said: "We will be doubling the support available for those technologies under the Renewables Obligation. This kind of tidal project, if proven, will go some way to helping the UK meet its ambitious targets for clean, green energy. "I wish Pulse Tidal every success in the trials."

Pulse Generation website

AMP website

Rotherham

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News: Japanese backing for Rotherham firm's tidal power project

Japanese trading and investment giant, Marubeni has joined other investors including the Viking Fund who have pledged a total of £580,000 to back Pulse Tidal's plans to install its tidal stream energy generator in the Humber estuary later this year. Based at the Innovation Technology Centre on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, the company has secured a further £1.1 million of Government and European money through the involvement with the LIFE-IC business accelerator. It uses high-performance hydrofoils similar to aeroplane wings, which move up and down like a whale's tail, to generate up to 100kW of electricity - enough power for 70 homes – which will be fed into the National Grid through Millennium Inorganic Chemicals' plant. nPower have announced plans for a tidal power scheme off the coast of North Wales.

Pulse website

LIFE-IC website

Star article

AMP website

Rotherham

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