Powerful Humber tides are to light up one of the world’s most spectacular aquariums.
In a new advance for marine renewable energy, the Neptune Proteus tidal stream energy device will supply electricity from April to The Deep, Hull’s iconic visitor attraction and research centre.
The full-scale demonstrator device is the result of five years’ work, and the developers, Neptune Renewable Energy Ltd, say the technology will provide a much more reliable and less intrusive source of clean electricity than wind turbines.
The recent successful deployment of the Neptune Proteus is to be followed by a commissioning period that commences this week, to prepare the device for supplying up to half the electricity required by the award winning attraction.
Designed by leading global architects Terry Farrell & Partners, The Deep is one of the most successful Millennium Commission projects in the UK and home to more than 3,500 fish, including sharks and rays, as well as housing world class marine research facilities.
Neptune Renewable Energy is the only tidal stream energy company to have developed commercially viable technology for shallow water estuarine locations, and its chairman, Nigel Petrie, says plans are now being finalised for arrays of devices to be deployed in the Humber within the next two years.
“ The development of the Neptune Proteus has paved the way for the design of our production model, arrays of which will provide a dedicated supply of clean power to major industries located on the Humber estuary and other suitable British locations ,” he said.
“ Supplying power to our first customer, The Deep, presents us with a great opportunity to raise the profile of our technology and of the potential for tidal stream power generation to make a significant contribution to meeting both commercial and domestic electricity demands .”
The Humber has been recognised as an ideal location for tidal stream energy generation due to its depth and tidal flow, and will continue to be a focus for R&D and investment. In UK terms, the government has acknowledged in a recent report that there is an abundance of resource in marine renewables, potentially enough to provide up to 20 per cent of current electricity requirements.
The Neptune Proteus demonstrator is 20 metres long with a unique turbine designed to maximise the generation of electricity. Neptune Renewable Energy has focused on lowering capital and operational costs in order that their technology can be deployed on a large scale.
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Offshore WIND Staff, March 14, 2012; Image: Neptune Renewable Energy