Tidal Technologies: Vertical Steel Foil Fabrication

Tidal Technologies Limited (TTL) is a UK-based company developing TT2, a highly innovative vertical axis turbine (VAT) arrangement, designed for large-scale offshore Tidal Stream Energy (TSE) generation in prevalent medium energy offshore tidal streams. Inspired by the stiff wing sails from Americas Cup racing yachts, the design of TT2's turbine foils enables commercially viable levels of energy output to be generated from the prevalent lower to medium tidal velocities around the Wales and English coastlines (Ouro et al, 2022). This is highly complimentary to the existing horizontal axis turbines (HATs) which operate more effectively at higher tidal velocities and therefore the introduction of TT2 ensures that more of the tidal resources available around the UK coast are addressable.

Other aspects of TT2's simple yet innovative design drive reductions in capital expenditure and operations & maintenance (O&M) costs, per MWh produced. These include a low cost, modular, concrete seabed gravity base and tower which extends above water, with wind turbine style generators and all associated electrical equipment supported above the waves in storm proof containers. The combination of these unique patented design features facilitates a step change in levelised cost of energy (LCOE) projections giving TT2 huge global potential. The core project team includes Jamie Scrimgeour (Founder/Inventor), Archie Sandberg (Project Manager), Jim Conybeare-Cross (CFO) and James Diddams (Engineer/Subcontractor, MD of Achelous Engineering). The team have many years of experience in managing complex projects and businesses, with Achelous Engineering -- a UK based engineering consultancy - being a leader in the field of VATs for rivers.

Significant further growth in renewables is urgently required to slow climate change, which is seriously impacting global human health, food security, water resources and global ecosystems. To achieve the UK's 2050 net-zero targets and meet international commitments, the UK must decarbonise its national electricity grid with renewable alternatives that reliably balance the grid. Wind and solar energy are unpredictable, and energy storage is expensive. The UK, however, has one of the largest reliable and predictable tidal resources in the world (equivalent to 10GW of installed capacity) and tidal energy could reliably deliver c11% of national energy requirements (UK Marine Energy Council) and 500GW globally worth $53bn annually by 2050 (Ocean Energy Europe, 2024).