The world’s largest tidal turbine was recently unveiled in Pentland Firth, Scotland, weighing 130 tons, 74ft (22.6m) tall, with two 60ft (18.3m) diameter rotors and generating 1MW on both tidal ebb and flow. The Atlantis Resources AK1000 can supply power to 1000 homes, and is to be installed at the European Marine Energy Centre in the Orkney Islands, and has taken more than ten years to develop.Atlantis Resources' chief executive Tim Cornelius explained that, " The turbines turn at six to eight revolutions per minute, so are incredibly slow turning and will have zero impact on the surrounding environment." Theoretically, the turbine rotors should not harm marine animals.
Why Pentland Firth
It is estimated that in the United Kingdom, there is 18TWh/yr of technically extractable tidal current resource. 40% of this technically extractable resource is concentrated in the far north of Scotland (Pentland Firth and Orkney Islands). Governments have recognized the immense potential of ocean energy and have begun significant incentive programmes to harness it. Ocean energy receives the highest number of renewable obligation certificates (ROCs) in the U.K in order to stimulate investment in projects that have high up front capital costs associated with developing turbine fields and power evacuation networks in some of the roughest waters on the planet.
via Atlantis Resources Corporation.
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