Monthly Archives: January 2014

The European Commission has proposed an action plan to support the development of blue energy, also called ocean energy. According to an impact assessment accompanying the document 40.000 jobs could be created in the industry by 2035 and 100GW of energy is aspired to be provided by 2050. The commission considers all technologies that harvest renewable energy of our seas and oceans (other than offshore wind) as blue energy. The energy technologies that are currently being developed are exploiting the potential of tides and waves as well as differences in temperature and salinity. Completion of this action plan in the period 2014-2017 should help the industrialisation of the sector, so that it can provide cost-effective, low-carbon electricity as well as new jobs and economic growth for the EU economy. For more information have a look at the website of the European Commission (link opens in new browser window).

In 2014 Tocardo Tidal Turbines will replace the existing water turbine at the Afsluitdijk by 3 new water turbines  commissioned by the Tidal Testing Centre. The replacement will function as a pilot for further expansion that is foreseen in 2018 for the renovation of the Afsluitdijk. The current water turbine was placed in 2008 as a demonstration turbine in the sluice of the Afsluitdijk near Den Oever. It gave important information about the installation process, permitting process and other important learnings. The turbine was also connected to the Dutch grid. Ever since it has been producing electricity from the flows induced by the tides in the Wadden Sea. Daily the turbine produces electricity for approximately 15 households. It is expected that the three new turbines will produce threefold. Tocardo Tidal Turbines and Tidal Testing Centre are working together in a long term cooperation of 3-5 years to expand the tidal testing facility in the Afsluitdijk. The three turbines will be placed in an array. Hans van Breugel says: “The turbines will give us vital data and experience in turbine arrays. There is no other turbine manufacturer capable of doing this. We can monitor this array in turbulent waters and are able to see how they react on each other. We can also test the installation process and monitor their performance.”

The second newsletter of the Energising deltas project has been sent out today. In this issue we are looking back on the past year and to the coming year. Furthermore ECN (one of the partners in the project) presents itself and an update on developments for REDstack and Tocardo is given. You can also find a link to the fact sheet of our project on our website and a description of the SWITCH event that was held on 19 December 2013. Read the newsletter online (link opens in new browser window) and subscribe to our newsletter now!    

Energising deltas wishes you a happy 2014!