STUDIES, SERVICES AND TRAINING

Exploit the kinetic energy of the oceans and rivers is not a new idea.

Thousands of patents are recorded at the point where it is almost impossible to identify all. Several tenths of technologies are currently under development in the world at various steps.

This energy is now exploitable, however operators and users do not know how to find it out.

In this context only few true professionals who have made a full-time activity of these energies since a long time can provide relevant answers to the questions you may ask:

• Can I use marine or river energy?
• What is the most appropriate turbine technology according to my needs and a define site?
• At what cost?
• What will be my production and my income?
• Is it profitable? What is the return on investment?
• What are the constraints and advantages / disadvantages?
• What is the legal and regulatory framework?

As precursors, working for 12 years in this activity, with experience in both field and technical, we can answer your questions, provide training, make measurements and the necessary feasibility studies to support your decisions and strategy. Please contact us.

Examples of power curve measurements: P, U, I = f (Vc, N), allowing to characterize the electrical production of a current turbine and more particularly to calculate its yield (Cp):

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Examples of spot current measures with a propeller current meter:

Working on rivers:

Examples of currents, depth, sea surface state measurements with ADCP's (Acoustic Dopler Current Profiler), which record data at the surface on a spot, a "transect" or set on the sea bottom for a longer time following their programming:

ADCP programming	ADCP working in transect
At work in a pass, view from a drone	Profile of the pass
ADCP in a 2,3 m/s current (5 knots)	ADCP set on a float at the surface
Setting ADCP's	ADCP set on the bottom
Setting an ADCP on the bottom with divers	Setting ADCP's on the bottom with divers
Profile of current velocity measurements recorded by ADCP: Vc = f (depth, time). We clearly distinguish the low and high tide stalls and current peaks in between :

Example of an ADCP transect of a river, which clearly shows that the currents are stronger at the surface and lower at the bottom, and therefore where to locate the current turbine for an optimum exploitation:

TRAININGS

We provide all trainings on current turbines and hydrokinetic energy, taylored made to your needs, with both practical and theoretical modules:

• Theory : hydrokinetic energy, origines, exploitation. How to select a site, sea, river, estuaries ? How to take measures ? How to exploit them ? Power formula, the Cp, the tip speed ratio, the limits. Power, energy and production calculations. How to optimize the energy production. Economy: capex, opex, return, total cost of kwh produced, profitability, the tariffs. Intermittence and forecasting. How to operate a current turbine ? Power conversion, the wire, the grid connection. Managing a hydrokinetic project: the Gantt chart, the critical path. Maintenance policy. Norms, quality, certifications. Return of experience, evaluating the results.

• Practical (demonstrated on one of our current turbines in operation): Visit of various hydrokinetic sites: how to select a site ? How to evaluate a current ? Turbine présentation, the various parts. Setting the mooring lines. Setting the turbine on its site. Setting the wire and plugging. Starting the turbine. Taking the various parameters and measures on operations: which measures devices and how to operate them ? Safety onshore and offshore. Maintenance.

For an adapted training program, please consult us.

Question ? From what current speed threshold can a tidal or river turbine be exploited ? Except in special cases, it is generally accepted that the turbines can be economically viable on the spots with currents above 2 m/s (4 knots) at sea and 1 m/s (2 knots) in rivers. However, only a case-by-case basis study can determine the sustainability and return on investment of setting turbines, depending on local conditions, local cost of fossil fuels, the local cost of kwh, feed-in tariffs for electricity, the supply cost of remote sites, tax credit, etc.

Good to know :on remote islands the fosssil fuel kwh cost, produced by a genset, can broadly exceed 1,5 USD!

 

To know more about the Hydro-Gen technology, select: Features The 20 kW turbine Benefits Turbine at the surface or on the seafloor Taylor made solutions Price Environmental impact