The most powerful tidal turbine has been developed in Scotland. Experts in the field of marine energy have been monitoring its progress closely. It’s an idea that has been workshopped and developed for years. Staring at it from a distance, you’d be forgiven for thinking that it’s just another ship sailing on the waters. A long body with two thick arms jutting out, it looks like an industrial barge. A closer look will reveal that it’s anything but.
The most powerful turbine ever created has been launched
Orbital Marine Power has helmed the project, looking to make tidal power a viable option when so many others had written this off. Many projects centered on this idea have come and gone. Some barely took to the water. The O2 is a different matter entirely. Tidal power might be on the brink of something amazing with this new development.
The O2 tidal turbine feels like more than just an experiment. It’s been created to withstand rough waters and to keep spinning no matter what turmoil it may encounter on the open waters. This is a strong advantage it has, especially when dealing with power generation on the volatile waters of the sea. This is very seldom an easy endeavor.
The O2 tidal turbine is causing waves in the energy sphere
At 74 meters long, the O2 doesn’t look like the turbines you see in wind farms. It has no tall towers, no expanse of concrete. Instead, it floats more like a platform, not a power plant. Two 1 MW turbines sit below it underneath the water. These work with the current. The whole frame of this tidal turbine floats, which means maintenance crews can access the essential parts of this turbine without having to dive down.
How the O2 tidal turbine will navigate the challenges that come with generating power on the ocean
When it comes to generating power, working with the ocean is never a simple task. There’s a whole host of issues to deal with. Saltwater corrodes metal, for instance. Waves and storms pose a constant threat, which is why this tidal turbine has piqued the interest it has globally.
The O2 could be a breakthrough development that would add another tool to the outlook on clean energy. More of these are always needed. Orbital says the O2 can run for 15 years and skip most of the headaches that derailed earlier tidal machines. The O2 started out in Dundee and then made its way up to Orkney, where it was launched. It’s now hooked up to the European Marine Energy Centre, sending power through cables under the sea.
Why the O2 tidal turbine matters now
Scotland is the perfect place to launch this tidal turbine. It has coastlines known for strong tides and rough waters. Wind and solar energy projects always seem to hog the limelight, all the while, the potential in tidal energy remained.
Finally, this is being tapped into. A project that actually works is all that was missing, and the O2 looks to be just that. It’s also said to last, and the O2 doesn’t cost a fortune, which are all alluring aspects of a new energy project. The O2 could be the first time a tidal project progresses from the prototype stage. This could be a big shift in energy in the making. Hopefully nothing goes wrong.
Tides are a problem, but they can be predicted and accounted for. This is what the experts behind the O2 have focused on. Strenuous testing is still being run on the O2 tidal turbine, but hopefully this will be the birth of a viable option and much-needed addition to the clean energy complement of the world.
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