Extracts from the Jan-Feb 2003 edition of Renew
These extracts only represent about 25% of it

4. Tidal and Wave Power move ahead

The 185 tonne prototype Stingray tidal current device was installed for its test run off the Shetland Isle last Sept, and all seemed to go well- see the detailed progress report in our Technology section. Meanwhile, the developers, the Engineering Business, have also turned their attention to wave energy. They have signed an agreement with Lancaster University that will allow EB to fast track the development of the University’s Frond wave power technology.

Frond is an oscillating device where the waves act on a collector mounted on top of a drive arm. It is a seabed mounted device and is designed to be sited in near-shore waters of 20-30m depth. EB say that it "bears an uncanny similarity to Stingray rotated through 90 degrees and the operating similarities between the two device will assist in the rapid development of Frond".

They add "With the Stingray project we have made great progress in 12 months and learnt a great deal about the realities of designing, building and installing oscillating renewable offshore power generators. We hope to be able to apply some of the lessons already learnt to Frond and undertake a similar fast track development programme. Running concurrent tidal and wave power development programmes we hope to make a significant contribution to ‘wet’ renewable offshore power generation."

Since the 1970’s, The Engineering Department of Lancaster University, which was originally led by Professor Emeritus Michael French, has pioneered the development of a number of wave generator concepts, including Frond. Lancaster now believe that EB is ideally placed to develop the concept into real offshore hardware, potentially leading to a commercial system.

For more see: http://www.engb.com/

Meanwhile Marine Current Turbines have been testing their tidal turbine off the coast from Lynmouth in N. Devon. It’s non-swivelling test version, mounted on a pile driven into the sea bed. See our report in Groups in Renew 142.

And in Scotland, Wavegen have been working on their new offshore wave energy device. There are some interesting fuel cell projects in the pipeline for the Isle of Islay- designed to use hydrogen produced using the power from the wavegen project for vehicles and for on-demand power production. Details at: www.scottishfuelcellconsortium.org.uk

Meanwhile Ocean Power Delivery have also been testing a prototype of their Pelamis wave-snake device. For details of these projects, take a look at the useful wave energy network site at: http://www.wave-energy.net. This includes links to most of the projects around the world.

* The World Energy Councils ‘Survey of Energy Resource’ also has some useful wave and tidal overviews : see www.wec.co.uk