Wind power dominates the renewables landscape today, but tidal power has been evolving fast and is now on the cusp of commercialisation. Tidal turbines work like wind turbines but extract power from fast-moving water. A clean, predictable source of energy that can supplement supply when the wind doesn’t blow.
The UK is the world’s leading source of tidal technology innovation: our developers have achieved a series of world-firsts that are attracting international interest, including: the world’s first grid-connected tidal array, tidal-powered electric cars, largest tidal array and most powerful tidal turbine.
In our series of half-hour lunchtime events, industry experts Simon Cheeseman and Vicky Coy will introduce you to key innovators through:
In an extended wrap-up event on December 15th, the tidal power pioneers will be joined by guest panelists from the Marine Energy Council, European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.
VISIT THE TIDAL POWER EXPRESS EVENT HUB
Wednesday 24th November (13.00-13.30)
Nova Innovation has developed the world’s first grid-connected tidal array, world’s first charging points for tidal-powered cars and Europe’s flagship tidal research projects. The company is now developing further tidal stream sites across the UK, Canada and Indonesia.
Speaker: Simon Forrest, CEO, Nova Innovation
Hosts: Vicky Coy, Head of Innovation Projects, ORE Catapult, and Gavin Smart, Head of Analysis and Insights, ORE Catapult
Wednesday 1st December (13:00-13:30)
Orbital Marine Power is the developer of the world’s most powerful tidal turbine in Orkney – the O2. The 74m long turbine is expected to operate in the waters off Orkney for the next 15 years with the capacity to meet the annual electricity demand of around 2,000 UK homes. With funding support from the Interreg TIGER project, Orbital is investigating the limits of turbine rotors size and the economics of deployment at sites around the English Channel region.
Speaker: Andrew Scott, CEO, Orbital Marine Power
Hosts: Alex Louden, Senior Technology Acceleration Manager, ORE Catapult, and Heather McLarty, Senior Project Manager, ORE Catapult
Wednesday 8th December (13:00-13:30)
SIMEC Atlantis operates the world’s largest tidal array in Pentland Firth in Scotland and is the first company in the world to repurpose an existing coal-fired power station for clean energy use. Across the world, the company has more than 1,000MW of tidal power in development in Scotland, Northern Ireland, India with their sights set on upcoming projects in China, Japan and Indonesia.
Speakers:
Hosts: Simon Cheeseman, Wave and Tidal Sector Lead, ORE Catapult, and Lorna Bennet, Senior Mechanical Engineer, ORE Catapult
Wednesday 15th December (13:00-14:30)
Chair: Dr Stephen Wyatt, Director of Research & Disruptive Innovation, ORE Catapult
Guest speakers: