Tidal power plant in Dutch Eastern Scheldt surge barrier put into service
On Wednesday 25 November, the tidal power plant in the Dutch Eastern Scheldt surge barrier has been put into service.
Turbine supplier Tocardo and constructor company Huisman installed five tidal turbines in an array. The turbines have a power out of 1.2 MW.
This installation is the largest tidal energy project in the Netherlands as well as the world’s largest commercial tidal installation having turbines in an array.
The commissioning was performed by chairman Diederik Samsom of the Dutch labour party.
Global showcase
"This project marks an important step in the development of tidal energy", says Hans van Breugel, CEO of Tocardo.
"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 Breugel there is a worldwide tidal energy potential for more than 200 Gigawatt.
Focus on upscaling
Chairman Joop Roodenburg of Huisman’s board of directors says 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."
Roodenburg announced that his company will focus on upscaling of tidal energy installations. "However, this requires a large investment, a realistic rate for tidal energy and a touch of idealism."
In addition to the financial sponsoring of the project, Huisman was responsible for the design and the construction of the turbine’s suspension structure.
Market leadership
Together with Huisman, Tocardo aspires to be the market leader in tidal energy.
Earlier this year, the Den Oever-based company installed three linked turbines in the Afsluitdijk, a 30 km long primary sea defence in The Netherlands, with a total capacity of 300 kW.
Another Tocardo turbine in the Afsluitdijk has been providing electricity for over seven years now. Tocardo also deployed its first offshore floating project at the Island of Texel in The Netherlands.
This news item was originally published on the website of Tocardo.
Read also on this website
● Tocardo placed array of five tidal turbines on Eastern Scheldt barrier, the Netherlands, 25 September 2015
● BlueTec names world’s first all-in-one floating tidal energy platform, 10 April 2015
● Dutch tidal testing centre hits water with array of Tocardo turbines in Afsluitdijk, the Netherlands, 23 February 2015
● Tocardo and Ekornergy agree to develop 28MW tidal energy supply in Mokpo Jeonnam, South Korea, 5 November 2014
More information
Tocardo
Den Oever, the Netherlands
+31 227 726 200
www.tocardo.com
Huisman Equipment
Schiedam, the Netherlands
+ 31 88 070 22 22
www.huismanequipment.com
Building and installing the Eastern Scheldt project