Electrical Generator for Tidal Turbines
Lead Participant:
TIDAL HARNESS LIMITED
Abstract
The generation of sustainable clean electricity by harnessing the potential power of the ocean tides is known as
tidal energy. Many permutations of tidal turbines exist but the majority have similarities with wind turbines and
are still plagued by poor reliability of equipment and high cost. A primary reason for poor reliability is the
presence of too many moving components. This project proposes and assesses the technical feasibility of an
electrical generator which simplifies the drive train of the turbine, yielding only one moving component
namely, the rotor itself. This disruptive simplification will result in an effective tidal turbine which reduces the
capital and operating expenditures and ensures tidal energy is substantially more reliable and affordable than
wind energy. The electrical generator can potentially be adapted for other applications such as river turbines,
hydroelectric and wave power applications.
tidal energy. Many permutations of tidal turbines exist but the majority have similarities with wind turbines and
are still plagued by poor reliability of equipment and high cost. A primary reason for poor reliability is the
presence of too many moving components. This project proposes and assesses the technical feasibility of an
electrical generator which simplifies the drive train of the turbine, yielding only one moving component
namely, the rotor itself. This disruptive simplification will result in an effective tidal turbine which reduces the
capital and operating expenditures and ensures tidal energy is substantially more reliable and affordable than
wind energy. The electrical generator can potentially be adapted for other applications such as river turbines,
hydroelectric and wave power applications.
Lead Participant | Project Cost | Grant Offer |
---|---|---|
TIDAL HARNESS LIMITED | £50,774 | £ 35,542 |
  | ||
Participant |
||
NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHY CENTRE | ||
THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH COUNCIL | £2,660 | £ 2,660 |
INNOVATE UK |
People |
ORCID iD |
Steve Khoo (Project Manager) |