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.”