Tocardo buys Dutch IHC tidal energy
Tocardo Tidal Turbines, producer of tidal and free-flow water turbines, has acquired IHC Tidal Energy, the tidal energy division of Dutch maritime company Royal IHC.
The take-over will accelerate the expansion of Tocardo’s Dutch and international tidal energy business. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
More capacity
"The acquisition of IHC Tidal Energy is a meaningful expansion of our product offering and will enhance our capacity to acquire and implement tidal energy projects across the globe", says Hans van Breugel, CEO of Tocardo.
IHC Tidal Energy has developed a tidal turbine with a vertical ax, which after several test trials is nearing readiness for the commercial market.
In 2010, the first real-life 30kW OceanMill prototype was deployed at a jetty near the Western Scheldt, the Netherlands (top photo).
IHC's vertical ax turbine (Ocean Mill).
Tocardo's horizonal ax turbine.
Two options: vertical and horizontal ax
For several years Tocardo has been manufacturing tidal turbines with a horizontal ax.
In some off shore locations, vertical-ax turbine technology provides better results than horizontal-ax turbine technology.
By offering both options, Tocardo enhances its clients’ capability to fully exploit the energy potential of fast-flowing sea currents. Bram Roelse, CEO of Royal IHC: "With this transaction we enhance our focus on our core activities. IHC Tidal Energy is a stable and healthy company, but its activities no longer fully fit Royal IHC’s strategy."
Worldwide references
Tocardo sold its turbines to Nepal to generate electricity in the country’s fast-flowing rivers. Recently it signed a memorandum of understanding for the delivery of tidal turbines with a total capacity of 28MW to South Korean energy company Ekornergy, in order to generate electricity off South Korea’s coast.
Earlier this month, Tocardo was appointed by the Isle of Man Government as one of its two preferred partners to supply tidal turbines for a major new renewable energy initiative.
Tocardo is also involved in upcoming projects elsewhere in Great Britain and in Canada. One of Tocardo’s turbines, installed in the northern Netherlands’ Afsluitdijk barrier dam, has been delivering electricity to the Dutch grid for more than five years, and three additional tidal turbines will soon be installed at this location.
This news item was originally published on the website of Tocardo.
Also read on this website
● Tocardo and Ekornergy agree to develop 28MW tidal energy supply in Mokpo Jeonnam, South Korea, 5 November 2014
● Hannover Messe 2014: Energising deltas envisions levees to produce sustainable energy, 9 April 2014
● Tocardo puts three additional turbines in array at Tidal test facility Afsluitdijk, the Netherlands, 29 July 2013
● Tocardo signs agreement with Climax to sell green energy generated by its tidal turbines, 28 May 2013
● Tocardo and Glow Tech will produce water turbines for Nepal rivers locally, 22 August 2012
More information
Tocardo
Den Oever, the Netherlands
+31 227 726 200
www.tocardo.com