the full structure in readiness to load it onto the barge that will take the device from Pembroke Dock (where it was built) round to Ramsey Sound – as soon as the optimal weather conditions present themselves. Murphy recalls being very happy indeed with the results of this lift. “As well as being the fi rst time we lifted the device, we also wanted to check the alignment of it in relation to the centre of gravity. We wanted about a 5° tilt on the tubular structure so that the structural tubes, which are hollow, can fl ood and drain freely as we put the device through the splash zone (the surface of the water). T ese impact on crane lifting limits and calculations associated with the speed of lowering the device up and through the water. Happily our estimate of weight was within half a tonne.”
Next on the agenda Murphy is obviously now itching to get the turbine into the sea. Tidal Energy Limited has been granted a licence (by the Crown Estate, which owns the seabed) for this device for a one-year operation period. He says: “T is is the time when we determine whether there is any adverse impact on the environment. Provided we can demonstrate there is no adverse operating impact, we will extend the operations licence. We have a technology development plan that
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we want to pursue. We signed off the design of this device two and a half years ago and then went into the procurement process for the long-lead items such as the blades, the generator technology, the gearbox, etc. Since that time we’ve already come up with many ideas onhow we can improve it. Our intention is to build a second pre- production prototype in 2016, then in 2018 we will be looking at the Ramsey Sound site as being our commercial-scale project objective.”
The path through the commercialisation process In terms of scaling this up to a commercial level, Murphy reveals that it won’t simply be a matter of building a bigger turbine. “We’ve built one turbine on a reduced size structure because this is most valuable step to prove the technology before we start scaling up. But we can scale up in three ways. Firstly, by having more of these devices on the seabed in that location. Secondly, by increasing the size of the ‘triangle’ of the structure to put two or three turbines onto the same structure. Finally, we can scale up the size of the turbine itself to create more output for a given tidal current fl owstream. Until we’ve done the prototype evaluation work it’s diffi cult to say exactly how the scale-up will best be tackled but it’s likely to be a combination of those three elements.” ●
When it is submerged, the DeltaStream turbine will sit on the seabed and be completely invisible
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