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, 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
RotherhamImages: pulsegeneration.co.uk / itpower.co.uk
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