A new design for harnessing deep water tidal flow energy has been tested and showed practical advantages over other renewable energy systems. TidalStream announced their unique underwater turbine platform – called Triton – has successfull undergone validation testing in Ifremer (Bretagne, France) in a deep-water test basin.

Triton is particularly interesting for the UK renewable energy market, since UK holds half the tidal stream energy potential in all Europe. This potential is equivalent to sveral nuclear power stations in terms of power generation.

Much like a wind turbine, a tidal flow turbine is adapted to the density of water, and could be used in areas of high energy near the shores of Ireland, Scotland and England. A single installation is boasted to have the ability to generate as much as 10 MW, which is significantly more than other tidal energy concepts. Fifty Triton turbines could easily supply electricity to about 250,000 homes. The machine can operate at two different levels – as a catamaran construction, easily float to the location of deployment, and as a vertically submerged spar holding up to six turbines. The model tested in France was about 3m in size, but a real-life version would easily span a water depth of 60 meters, with very little supporting structure showing above water. A floated version would be a 1200 ton catamaran suspension.

Tidal flow energy is silent, predictable and relatively constant, as opposed to wind for example. It is also close to invisible from the shores, making it an attractive solution near metropolitan and tourist areas. Another good thing about this technology, according to one of the partners on this project – John Armstrong, is the fact that most of the parts for the machines are made using existing wind turbine technology. The TidalStream Partnership was founded in 2005 by partners John Armstrong and Michael Todman, who both brought extensive experience from the wind, marine and power industries.