Tocardo placed array of five tidal turbines on Eastern Scheldt barrier, the Netherlands
During neap tide Tocardo Tidal Turbines and Huisman installed five turbines in the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier to generate tidal energy. This installation is the largest tidal energy project in the Netherlands and the world’s largest commercial tidal installation of five turbines in an array.
The tidal power plant is engineered and produced in a record time of nine months. The 50 m long and 20 m wide structure was transported over water (see top photo) and installed between the pillars under the barrier on 24 September.
The Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier generates a strong tidal current.
Combined functions
The Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier is the largest of the world-renowned Delta Works series of dams and storm surge barriers, designed to protect the Netherlands from flooding from the North Sea. The location is now a combination of flood defence and hydroelectric power.
The array of five turbines has a total capacity of 1.2 MW.
Reliable energy source
"This project marks an important step in the development of tidal energy", says Tocardo CEO Hans van Breugel. "Tidal technology is innovative and could grow into a significant Dutch export product. The export expectation of tidal energy is more than 200 Gigawatt. With our turbines in the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier, we can now show the world what tidal energy is all about: providing a clean and reliable source of energy that could fulfil 10-20 percent of the world’s electricity needs".
According to Huisman’s CTO Joop Roodenburg the advantages of tidal energy are evident. "Besides the fact that it is extremely predictable how much energy is generated – the tide is there every day – the turbines are installed in the water and will not be in sight such as wind turbines. For the future we focus on upscaling the installations."
Facilitating innovative solutions
As manager of the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier, the Dutch national public works Rijkswaterstaat supports this innovative initiative to generate energy.
Together with contractors, engineering firms and knowledge institutes, Rijkswaterstaat facilitates innovative solutions and whenever possible facilitates initiatives to test or build renewable energy installations.
Earlier this year Rijkswaterstaat facilitated Tocardo to place a pilot array of three Tocardo T1 tidal turbines in the Afsluitdijk closure dam, the Netherlands.
This news item was originally published on the website of Tocardo.
Read also on this website
● Dutch tidal testing centre hits water with array of Tocardo turbines in Afsluitdijk, the Netherlands, 23 February 2015
● 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 Tidal Turbines
Den Oever, the Netherlands
+31 227 726 200
www.tocardo.com
Huisman Equipment
Schiedam, the Netherlands
+ 31 88 070 22 22
www.huismanequipment.com