In 2016, a European tidal energy consortium of 7 partners, led by Nova Innovation in Scotland, secured funding from the European Commission to demonstrate and validate an innovative direct drive power take-off (PTO) subsystem for tidal turbines. The project ran for 36 months and completed in Q4 2019.
The direct drive PTO subsystem turns tidal energy into electricity without using a gearbox, reducing the number of moving parts and making it more efficient than a conventional system using a gearbox. This improves the reliability of the turbines, bringing down the cost of tidal energy.
The PTO underwent onshore testing in Q3 2018 at the testing RWTH Aachen University Test Facility. In-sea testing started in January 2019 at Babcock’s Rosyth site. Following the successful completion of the first phase of testing in April, the TiPA PTO was retrieved, inspected and redeployed for the second phase in Q2 2019.
The results from the project were independently validated and exceeded all expectations. The TiPA PTO achieved a 29% reduction in the cost of tidal energy, against a target of 20%, and could unlock a global market worth €1.3 billion.
TIPA PROJECT EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS!
The TiPA project has now been successfully completed. Over the last 3 years, a team of 7 consortium partners worked tirelessly to develop a new and improved tidal turbine power take-off (PTO) subsystem. The results [...]
TIPA TURBINE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETES SUBSEA TESTING
The new technology from the ground-breaking Tidal Turbine Power Take-off Accelerator (TiPA) project, has successfully completed subsea testing at Babcock’s Rosyth Site in Scotland. The innovative power take-off technology is being developed as part [...]
TiPA FEATURES IN EEI MAGAZINE
The TiPA project features in the summer edition of the European Energy Innovation magazine. You can read all about the latest updates on the project and how it has exceeded its LCOE reduction target here - bit.ly/2K44DbY
