www.thisishullandeastriding.co.uk
July 29, 2009
The Humber estuary has become a source of renewable electricity thanks to pioneering technology developed in Hull. The technology, which was created by Hull company Pulse Tidal, in association with the city's university, converts shallow wave power into energy. It works by employing horizontal blades which move in the tidal power stream and drive a generator. As reported by the Mail, a prototype rig was lowered into the Humber off Immingham in September last year.
After taking several months to install and commission, it became officially operational yesterday. Pulse Tidal commercial director, Dr Howard Nimmo, said he was absolutely delighted the power had finally been turned on. He said: "It is the culmination of five years of hard work, motivated by a strong belief it could be achieved." Working at full capacity, the rig produces a total of 100 kWs of electricity – enough to power about 70 homes.
The power is being fed directly to Immingham chemical company Millennium Inorganic Chemicals (MIC), making it the first business in the UK to take a direct electricity feed from tidal power. Now Pulse Tidal is working on extending the technology to product a rig capable of generating one MW of power, 10 times the size of the one located in the Humber. The machine will eventually operate in conjunction with other generators in a what has been described as an "off-shore power station".
The company believes wave power will surpass wind turbines as the most economic source of offshore, renewable, power. Chief executive, Bob Smith, said: "According to the latest figures, offshore wind energy costs between eight pence and 11p per kW-hour to produce. "We believe the Pulse system will be more cost-effective than offshore wind after only one 200 MW (generator) has been installed."
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