Good news on the alternative energy front. The largest ever tidal stream turbine of its kind is finally being installed in Northern Ireland. The SeaGen was scheduled to go up in August 2007, but a myriad of problems have held it back. These turbines transform the non stop movement of ocean currents into a low impact, consistent source of energy. Marine Current Turbines has been given permission to install and operate SeaGen for five years.
Sky News reports:
SeaGen is the biggest turbine of its kind in the world, with the capacity to produce 1.2MW of electricity - four times more than any other tidal turbine - and will generate clean and sustainable electricity for around 1,000 homes.
The giant turbine is environmentally friendly - it makes no noise, is almost completely below the surface of the water, never runs out and has zero emissions.
And this spinning in the ocean does not harm or disrupt ocean life how??
March 19th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Hi Chris- I was concerned about that myself, but they say that is spins slow enough as to not disturb the wildlife.
MCT’s description here: http://www.marineturbines.com/technical.htm
March 20th, 2008 at 8:38 am
Hmmm….well I would have to say that in order to set the pillars, that alone would affect the environment and even though they turn slower than that of a prop on a ship it is still enough to disrupt what wildlife “would” be there. But it is all interesting anyway.
I suspect that no matter what we do for “cleaner” energy it will have some sort of affect on the environment even if it just comes down to land, sea or air space used.
March 24th, 2008 at 11:01 am
A really innovative and highly commendable project the world will be a better place for this giant leap forward
in energy supply and conservation, pure clean and perfect role on more of the same.
March 31st, 2008 at 2:34 pm