SeaGen – the underwater power plant The SeaGen installation in the strait of Strangford Lough is located in Northern Ireland. This prototype of a tidal turbine is already demonstrating the successful implementation of power generation using rotors mounted in water. Not least with this project, Bristol-based Marine Current Turbines has developed from a pioneer into a technology leader in tidal turbines with horizontal axes. Courtesy of Siemens press pictures

Munich, Germany - February 17, 2012

Siemens strengthens its position in future-oriented market for marine current power plants – Acquisition of Marine Current Turbines.

Activities strengthened in the field of marine hydropower.

With its majority stake in the British company Siemens is forging ahead with promising marine current turbine technology.

The SeaGen installation in the strait of Strangford Lough is located in Northern Ireland.

SeaGen – the underwater power plant Courtesy of Siemens press pictures

This prototype of a tidal turbine is already demonstrating the successful implementation of power generation using rotors mounted in water.

Not least with this project, Bristol-based Marine Current Turbines has developed from a pioneer into a technology leader in tidal turbines with horizontal axes.

SeaGen has in the meantime fed more than three gigawatt-hours of electrical energy into the grid. In terms of power generated it is the biggest marine current turbine project in commercial operation to date.

From natural marine currents to electricity Courtesy of Siemens press pictures

A black and red steel tower rises above the water in the 150-square-meter Strangford Lough in County Down, Northern Ireland.
It is part of the world's first commercial marine current power plant.

The SeaGen facility has been in operation since November 2008.
Not far from the small coastal town of Strangford the facility equipped with two 600-kW turbines supplies ecofriendly power to over 1500 households.

Purely by utilizing tidal forces the facility reliably generates electrcity with the aid of two axial-flow turbines with a combined capacity of 1.2 megawatts (MW).

Maintenance without any great effort Courtesy of Siemens press pictures

Two underwater rotors attached to a tower structure drive the marine current turbine.
The twin rotors turn with the tidal current and optimally track the flow thanks to their 180-degree-pitch blades.

The crossbeam, to which the two rotors are attached, is 29 meters long.
The two drive trains each have a rotor of 16 meters in diameter and weigh 27 tons.

The facility is comparable to a wind turbine.
The energy density of the flowing water is, however, 800 times higher than that of wind, thus making it possible to efficiently generate electricity.

Maintenance without any great effort Courtesy of Siemens press pictures

Facility maintenance is uncomplicated.
The crossbeam, to which the SeaGen rotors are attached, can be raised above the level of the water for maintenance purposes with the aid of a hydraulic lifting system.

During Facility maintenance it is possible to pass directly past or below the turbine in a boat. During operation the turbine rotors are as much as three meters below the surface.

The tides as a reliable source of energy Courtesy of Siemens press pictures

The power plant is located in a strait in the natural harbor Strangford Lough.
The turbine is attached to a pile structure swept by the tidal currents, which is anchored to the seabed at a depth of approximately 30 meters.

The turbine's rotor blades are driven by the water currents.
At every high tide around 18,000 m3 of water flow through the strait and the current reaches a continuous velocity of more than 5 knots (2.4 m/s).

Marine energy has a major advantage.
Because of the known tidal cycles the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun cause the sea level to rise and fall.
The exactly tidal markedness can be forecast reliably with the aid of computations and this thus enables exact planning of power generation.

Power generation 20 hours a day Courtesy of Siemens press pictures

Thanks to the innovative technology of the marine current turbine SeaGen can generate power for up to 20 hours a day at high and low tide.

The tidal power plant has to date fed more than three gigawatts of electrical energy into the grid.
In terms of power generated it is the largest marine current turbine project worldwide.

Another project featuring several marine current turbines is at the planning stage: The 8-megawatt Kyle Rhea facility is to be built in a strait between the Scottish mainland and the Isle of Skye.

The new electricity age Courtesy of Siemens press pictures

The global potential for power generation using tidal power plants is estimated at 800 terawatt-hours (TWh) per year.
That is equivalent to approximately one-quarter more than Germany's entire power demand and equals three to four percent of power consumption worldwide.

Coastal regions with strong tidal currents such as those in the UK, Canada, France and East Asia have major potentials for the utilization of this technology.


Source: Siemens AG

http://www.siemens.com/press/  



ASTROMAN Magazine - 2011.12.29

High-Tech Hut Magic on Monte Rosa

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1134  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2011.12.03

Siemens publishes African Green City Index analyzing 15 major cities in 11 African countries

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1112  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2011.11.26

Siemens honors twelve inventors - R&D investments to increase by EUR500 million

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1107  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2011.11.22

Siemens: Grand Opening of the Charlotte gas turbine manufacturing facility

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1106  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2011.10.17

Siemens puts solar farm in the south of France on line

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1079  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2011.09.25

Siemens brings renewables-based power to Mallorca

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1062  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2011.09.03

Siemens and Volvo Car Corporation launch electric mobility partnership

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1047  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2011.07.09

San Francisco leads the U.S. in environmental sustainability

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=1013  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2011.06.12

Siemens starts operating its first 6 megawatt wind turbine

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=993  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2011.05.15

Largest contract: Siemens is to build ICx for Deutsche Bahn

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=974  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2011.04.18

Siemens: the Train of Ideas on European tour as an environmental embassador

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=946  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2011.01.23

Siemens Healthcare unveils the world's first integrated whole-body molecular MR system available for clinical use

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=887  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2011.01.02

Atos Origin and Siemens to create a European IT Champion

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=870  


ASTROMAN Magazine - 2010.10.23

OSRAM LED for thermal stability. OSLON Black Series

http://www.astroman.com.pl/index.php?mod=magazine&a=read&id=827