A tidal turbine has generated record levels of power production in its first year of testing.
The 2 megawatt (MW) SR2000 turbine produced more than 3 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable electricity in less than 12 months, Scotrenewables Tidal Power said in a statement Tuesday.
The turbine is located at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland. Scotrenewables described the SR2000 as “the world’s most powerful operating tidal stream turbine.” Tidal stream technologies are able to harness the kinetic energy of currents flowing in and out of tidal areas, according to the EMEC.
Scotrenewables said its turbine had supplied the equivalent annual electricity demand of roughly 830 U.K. households and, at times, more than 25 percent of the Orkney Islands’ electricity demand. An estimated 22,000 people live on the islands.
Looking at the bigger picture, the 3 GWh produced by the SR2000 during the last 12 months is greater than […]
This looks like a wonderful method to harness nature to supply our electrical needs. They should be very proud that it works so efficiently, and would replace the need for more arcane methods like nuclear power plants which are a hazard to our species. Good show, Scotland!