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Case study

The Seaflow project
Lynmouth, Devon

Marine Current Turbines Ltd is running a programme of tidal turbine development through research and development (R&D) and demonstration phases to commercial manufacture. The initial R&D phase will be completed by 2006, when commercial installations will be started. It is planned that 300 megawatts of installations will be completed by 2010. The current R&D programme is in three phases:

Phase 1: 1999–2003: Installation of the first large monopile-mounted experimental 300-kilowatt single 11-metre-diameter rotor system off Lynmouth, Devon. This will generally only operate with the tide in one direction. The phase cost was £3.3 million.

Phase 2: 2003–2005: Design, manufacture, installation and testing of the first ‘full-size’ twin rotor system to be rated at 750–1,200 kilowatts. This will be grid-connected and will function with the flow in both directions, and will be the prototype and test-bed for the commercial technology. This phase is expected to cost approximately £4.5 million, including grid connection.

Phase 3: 2004–2005: Installation of the first small farm of tidal turbines interconnected with the Phase 2 system, probably involving three to four extra units to give an aggregate power for the system of about 4 to 5 megawatts – the actual amount depends on the number of units and the rated power for the site. This project will be partly self-financing through revenue generated from the sale of electricity.