Sustainable Marine Energy (SME) has completed its first phase of sea trials with its PLAT-O tidal energy platform.
The SME is proving that by using its platform, secured under the surface of the water the tidal energy production costs can be reduced considerably.
Recently, the tidal energy industry is facing high costs for installation and maintenance.
PLAT-O was launched from the Venture Quays facility located in East Cowes at Isle of Wight, which was later pulled to the test site at Yarmouth.
Later, PLAT-O was submerged to installation depth and a series of tests were conducted.
Then PLAT-O has been re-emerged and taken back to East Cowes, where it is going through preparation of next series of trials.
The marine operations were organized using small vessels, showing that a step change reduction in the cost of installing tidal energy devices can be achieved.
The results of the sea trial provide confidence in the potential for tidal streams to provide a commercially viable source of renewable energy.
The company has achieved a milestone in the development of the solution to address the costs associated with delivering tidal energy. Over a short period of time it has achieved a great deal due to the capable and passionate team, says, Jason Hayman, MD, SME.
After this weekend’s operations, PLAT-O provides the industry with a new approach which reduces the costs and risks associated with delivering tidal energy considerably, says Hayman.
Over the next few months the company will be ramping up the time that PLAT-O spends at site, and running a series of tests which will culminate in the installation of PLAT-O at a more aggressive tidal site and generating power to the grid, he said.
The progress that the team at SME have made culminating with the recent trial installation of PLAT-O should be regarded as a terrific achievement, noted, David Thomson, MD, Marine operations, Orcades Marine Management Consultants, who manages the delivery marine operations for SME.
Sabeena Wahid
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