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Tocardo International BV


Head office in NL
Phone: +31-226-423411
Branch office in UK
Phone: +44-1847-808212/100
Email: info@tocardo.com
 
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Tocardo Technology

 The Tocardo turbines resemble “under water wind turbines”. Because the turbines are in most cases completely submerged, a minimal visual impact is achieved.

Principal characteristics of the technology are:

  • T50

    Horizontal axis
  • Permanent Magnet Direct Drive generator; no gearbox
  • 2-bladed, fixed pitch rotor
  • bi-directional patented stall-blade concept, no yawing
  • technology aimed to generate energy at maximum reliability and the lowest possible TCE
  • minimal visual impact
  • very predictable energy output
  • On-grid and off-grid connection possibilities

Tides


Spring-neap cycle

Tides are caused by gravitational forces of the sun, moon and other bodies acting on the water masses of the earth’s oceans and seas. The result is a very predictable, cyclic motion of this water mass over the earth, with an almost bi-diurnal period.


The tidal range resulting directly from these forces is just some 2 cm, but can become several meters in some place due to the shape of the continents.

Hydrokinetic tidal energy technology (like Tocardo’s) is basically not interested in the range of the tides, but in the speed of the water, moving due to the existence of these ranges.

Compared to wind, tidal currents act at relatively low speeds. But as water is 850 times denser than air, still economically viable energy extractions can be made at currents from 1.5 m/s upwards. At specific locations, funnelling effects concentrate the energy and much higher speeds occur (3 – 7 m/s) making energy extraction more interesting. This occurs where coastlines bend, where water is forced through channels between islands, or where estuaries flow into a sea.

Because of predictability of a tidal flow, also energy production is highly predictable, making it a reliable, high value energy source.


Rivers


Apart from tidal flows, river flows can be interesting for hydrokinetic energy extraction as well. The energy source here is not the moon, but mostly the rainwater discharge through these rivers.