Giant tidal turbine 'performing well' in tests off Orkney - Polidicks

[URL]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18096372[/URL] [QUOTE][B]A subsea turbine which uses tidal power to generate electricity has successfully completed initial tests off Orkney.[/B] The turbine was lowered into position during winter storms and Scottish Power Renewables said it was performing well. The 100ft-high 1MW (megawatt) Hammerfest Strom HS1000 device is already powering homes and businesses on the island of Eday. There are plans to create a 10MW tidal power array in the Sound of Islay. Testing began in December and has been designed to finalise the timetable for the Islay project, with machines being installed "as early as feasible" between 2013 and 2015. Keith Anderson, SPR chief executive, said: "The performance of the first HS1000 device has given us great confidence so far. Engineers were able install the device during atrocious weather conditions, and it has been operating to a very high standard ever since. "We have already greatly developed our understanding of tidal power generation, and this gives us confidence ahead of implementing larger scale projects in Islay and the Pentland Firth. "Scotland has the best tidal power resources in Europe, and that's why we are seeing world leading technologies tested here." The turbine can be monitored from the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) base in Eday, but engineers can also operate and inspect the device from Glasgow using mobile connections and an on-board camera. [/QUOTE] Hey, Ovb, is this going to damage the oceans or fish in any decidedly negative way?

It likely will damage the coast.

[QUOTE=zombini;35999919]It likely will damage the coast.[/QUOTE] It does nothing of the sort. It simply utilizes the power of the tides, it creates no sort of back current, the water just pushes around it.

[QUOTE=zombini;35999919]It likely will damage the coast.[/QUOTE] "I have no idea what I'm talking about"

[QUOTE=ewitwins;36000018]It does nothing of the sort. It simply utilizes the power of the tides, it creates no sort of back current, the water just pushes around it.[/QUOTE] It converts tidal energy into electricity, you can't just create energy. If these are used on a large enough scale it might affect the tides, might.

[QUOTE=Antdawg;36000139]It converts tidal energy into electricity, you can't just create energy. If these are used on a large enough scale it might affect the tides, might.[/QUOTE] No, not at all. Do you realize how large the tides are? They have a MASSIVE field of these of the side of the East Coast and they do nothing of the sort. And yes it takes energy from the tides, but tidal waves produce SO much energy that there is a very insignificant decrease in their movement.

[QUOTE=Fourm Shark;36000166]The tides are created by the gravitational pull of the moon. I don't think we have the capability to dent it.[/QUOTE] Actually, it is also pushed by the movements of many sea creatures. [IMG]http://www.facepunch.com/fp/ratings/rainbow.png[/IMG] The more you know!

[img]http://i.imgur.com/wJIkn.jpg[/img] It'll work... Until a whale runs into it and breaks the blades, or a fisherman's net get's caught and entangled in it. A trawler net would do some nasty damage to that thing.

My oceanography teacher talked about this TODAY in class! "maybe someday major tidal zones may have huge turbines to catch the power of a celestial powered 50 foot water movement" Now THATS theme reality!

[QUOTE=OvB;36001476][IMG]http://i.imgur.com/wJIkn.jpg[/IMG] It'll work... Until a whale runs into it and breaks the blades, or a fisherman's net get's caught and entangled in it. A trawler net would do some nasty damage to that thing.[/QUOTE] Yeah cause they won't bother putting warings on maps and whales are smart.

[QUOTE=Antdawg;36000139]It converts tidal energy into electricity, you can't just create energy. If these are used on a large enough scale it might affect the tides, might.[/QUOTE] Just like how wind turbines stop winds and turn them around and create energy out of nothing!

[QUOTE=alien_guy;36004407]Yeah cause they won't bother putting warings on maps and whales are smart.[/QUOTE] ovb is a marine biologist he knows more about whales than you

[QUOTE=OvB;36001476][img]http://i.imgur.com/wJIkn.jpg[/img] It'll work... Until a whale runs into it and breaks the blades, or a fisherman's net get's caught and entangled in it. A trawler net would do some nasty damage to that thing.[/QUOTE] I fairly confident they'll be charted on maps. You know, like ship wrecks are. And trawlers tend to not go near them

[QUOTE=Bad)-(and;36004560]I fairly confident they'll be charted on maps. You know, like ship wrecks are. And trawlers tend to not go near them[/QUOTE] Probably GPS nodes as well.

[QUOTE=Antdawg;36000139]It converts tidal energy into electricity, you can't just create energy. If these are used on a large enough scale it might affect the tides, might.[/QUOTE] That only applies to using waves for energy. Wind and waves could be effected by harvesting their energy. Tidal energy will remain for as long as this planet has a moon.

[QUOTE=Bad)-(and;36004560]I fairly confident they'll be charted on maps. You know, like ship wrecks are. And trawlers tend to not go near them[/QUOTE] It'll most definitely be charted on maps. Though that won't stop a stray net or long line from drifting into it. Those things are floating around all over. And about the whales, they tend to get confused by large noisy things. Depending on what kind of sound these make underwater, whales could possibly be curiously attracted to them like this sperm whale crashing into an oil operation: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb-hujQs2dY[/media] Whales like to check big noisy things out. Hell, ships run them over quite often, although that's more due to migration paths and shipping lanes intercepting. They're going to have to baby sit these things 24/7 and have a contingency plan in place for every scenario.

I fear for the upkeep of these things. Repairing one if it breaks will probably be a bitch.

[quote]Hey, Ovb, is this going to damage the oceans or fish in any decidedly negative way?[/QUOTE] I doubt it would have much of an effect on the currents to do any damage. It'll probably kill some fish that are unlucky enough to swim into it, sort of like birds hitting the wind turbines. They pose a decent threat to whales and other mammals and I'm willing to bet one will hit it eventually. They'll make a lot of noise and whales won't like that either. Other than that, it should be fine.