Tide and Time Wait for No One

Ireland's Strangford Lough is to be the site of the worlds first commercial tidal turbine.The lough has one of the fastest tidal flows on earth and is reasonably sheltered from inclement weather, making it an attractive location for the tidal power project. The technology was developed by Marine Current Turbines at a cost of £10 million and works on a similar principle to a terrestrial windmill. Two rotors, 15 to 20 meters in diameter, are fixed to the sea bed on a 300 ton rig. The turbines can pitch at up to 180 degrees allowing them to capture energy from the tide as it flows in and out of the Irish lough at 4 to 8 knots (roughly 7 to 15 kilometers per hour). When in operation the 600kW turbines generate enough energy to power 1000 U.K. homes. Up until mid July 2008 the turbines were supplying electricity to the national grid on a test basis. Then on July 17 the two turbines were damaged. The company states that the damage was caused by a "control system fault." Work began immediately to replace the turbine blades.

Despite the fact that this technology produces zero emissions British government support for this, and other similar projects, has been tepid at best. Most of the funding for this project was raised privately. Bernie Bulkin of Britain's Sustainable Development Commission says that Britain has " a number of highly competitive devices... some of which are ready to go into the water... government should be backing innovation and technology on this." However, as reported previously on this blog, the British government has decided to throw it's tax payer's money behind the construction of a new generation of nuclear power plants.

Strangford Lough is a protected habitat with a host of diverse marine life making their home there. Dr David Erwin, a former Chief Executive of the Ulster Wildlife Trust, and Chair of the independent group overseeing the project, noted that "small animals will pass right through the turbines..." However, he also stated that he is "a bit concerned" about larger animals, such as seals and basking sharks. They "just might get caught up in the turbines." He says.

The marine laboratory of Queen's University Belfast are in the process of carrying out a two year study to monitor seals, porpoises (whales, dolphins) and seabird activity in the Strangford Narrows near the £10 million tidal turbine. The influence of changes in the water flow pattern caused by the presence of the turbines will also be studied. In an unrelated topic Queen's University recently received an £850,000 grant for marine energy research. If their study shows any serious impact on the wildlife of Strangford Lough caused by the presence of the turbines the project will be stopped.

In our haste to solve the urgent problem of global warming let's hope we don't sacrifice the more vulnerable in our environment.