Fossil fuels propelled the Industrial Revolution and subsequent technological advances. However, our future cannot be based on them, if only because they are a finite resource; and we are very close to exhausting them.
Cape Sharp Tidal, a joint venture between Emera and OpenHydro, has completed two significant milestone operations in preparation for the next phase of the tidal energy demonstration project—the installation of its subsea power cable and the launch of its deployment barge.
Atlantic Towing Limited of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia has secured a contract to provide marine tug and barge services to the Cape Sharp Tidal project. Cape Sharp Tidal is a multi-phase project with plans to grid-connect a 4MW demonstration tidal array in Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy in the coming months.
Toshiba Corporation announced that Toshiba Hydro Power (Hangzhou) Co., Ltd. (THPC) has supplied three hydro turbines and generators for Nam Ngiep II hydro power plant in Lao PDR after taking its order from China International Water & Electric Corporation, a subsidiary of China Three Gorges Corporation. The hydro power plant started commercial operation on September 27th.
The Board of Swedish marine energy company Minesto has decided to apply for listing of the companys shares on First North at NASDAQ Stockholm and conduct a new issue of units directed to the public in Sweden of appoximatley EUR 10 million.
As the demand for renewable wind and solar energy steadily increases, the need to reduce the cost and extend the life of renewable energy storage batteries becomes even greater.
The EOLO group (UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country) has developed a technique to forecast wave energy several hours in advance
The global wave and tidal energy market was worth US$25 million in 2013. It is expected to grow at a CAGR of 64.1% from 2014 to 2020, eventually reaching a value of US$10.1 billion in 2020. A new research report released by Transparency Market Research, titled "Wave and Tidal Energy Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020", makes this prediction for the global wave and tidal energy market based on comprehensive primary and secondary research.
The Politecnico di Torino and the spin off Wave for Energy have developed the first Italian 1:1 scale device for the production of electricity from sea waves which, on August 7th, will be moored 800 m from the coast of Pantelleria.
The growing emphasis on renewable and carbon neutral energy generation has pushed tidal energy into the spotlight. Tidal energy being more reliable than wave energy has a few operational plants with substantial capacity across the globe. New, experimental concepts such as dynamic tidal power, which enable production even in low-tide regions, possess the potential to disrupt existing technologies and make tidal power a key energy resource.