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Morlais tidal siteTocardo

HydroWing to demonstrate next generation Tocardo Turbines at Morlais

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30 MW at Morlais

HydroWing Ltd have been awarded a berth with 30 MW potential at Morlais a tidal site located in Angelsey, Wales, and operated by Menter Môn. The company plans a phased approach starting with a commercial demonstrator project in 2023 which will be operated by HydroWing’s newly established Welsh entity: HydroWing Tidal Projects Ltd. The initial project looks to cement the technology at the site, grow the Welsh team and develop the essential strong local supply chains and stakeholder relations to subsequently enable roll out toward the full 30 MW.
The device will be installed using the recently acquired Inyanga Entsha the new Dynamically-Positioned (DP2) Multi-Purpose Vessel. The Entsha, powered by DC Electric Propulsion, offers 35% increased energy efficiency leading to very low fuel consumption and high reliability unlocking efficient processes for the HydroWing’s installation, Operation and Maintenance. The vessel is currently in Appledore, Devon, where it is being upgraded with intelligent launch and recovery systems. Inyanga Entsha in combination with Tocardo’s reliable turbines and a low-cost mobilisation strategy are key to ensuring that tidal energy can compete with other renewable energy technologies.

Inyanga Entsha

HydroWing will work closely with the local supply chain in North Wales to deliver this demonstration phase. This commitment is strengthened with the joining of Marine Energy Wales cluster in early 2022. The front-end engineering design is currently being undertaken and over the next months HydroWing will undertake detailed analysis and design to ensure optimised configuration of the turbines.

Tocardo Tidal Turbines

The HydroWing device has been inspired by the Tocardo’s flagship OTP Project and the world’s largest single installation of tidal turbines (5 turbines). This 1.25 MW project has operated on the Eastern Scheldt barrier since 2015 with turbines arranged on a wing in a similar configuration to the HydroWing. The proven long term robustness, reliability and remote-control capability gives confidence to developing arrays of turbines on HydroWing. The key advantages of these turbines, aside from the proven reliability, is the compact nature of the device, allowing low-cost logistics using standard containers.

Tocardo OTP

This project will demonstrate the next generation Tocardo T-2si Turbines configured into the HydroWing Structure. The new turbines will feature enhanced blade performance and control innovation to provide low cost, clean, predictable and reliable electricity to the Local Grid. The new turbines integrated with HydroWing configuration will reduce the CAPEX while retaining the excellent robust reliability for which Tocardo are renowned.

Tocardo T-2si

The five installed turbines on the Eastern Scheldt barrier have each accumulated 6 years of operation with 95% availability proving it to be a robust, reliable, and low-cost system with limited need for physical intervention- giving confidence to integrating these turbines into HydroWing’s subsea system to take advantage of tidal sector’s biggest market segment.

HydroWing Technology

The HydroWing is a multi-rotor subsea device with three turbines mounted on a wing like structure which is stabbed onto a sub-structure, a modular gravity-based frame mounted on the seabed.

The device can be a single or double wing, depending on the depth of water at the site. The key advantages of the technology are the enhanced redundancy of the multi-rotor system and the high packing density capable of extracting 275 MW/km² of seabed space with robust simplicity and reduced CAPEX. The Power is integrated through the patented Turbine Control Hub mounted in the wing and electrical/ data connection is via wet mate connectors, allowing quick and simple installation and recovery.

Quotes

Richard Parkinson, MD HydroWing: “We are very excited to demonstrate our HydroWing with the next generation Turbines at Morlais. Our key objective is to demonstrate that tidal energy can be cost competitive versus other renewable energy sources. We look forward to working with the local supply chain and collaborating with other developers at Morlais.”

Andries van Unen, CEO Tocardo: “For Tocardo, the development of the T-2si turbine marks an important milestone on the technology roadmap and will open the door to the offshore tidal market. With the HydroWing, our expertise, business partners and existing technology base, the Morlais project is the perfect stepping stone for Tocardo to determine our course and to claim our position in the market.”

Gerallt Llewelyn Jones, SRO Morlais Energy: “Morlais welcomes Inyanga and we look forward to a productive relationship in progressing this important industry and creating benefits for the local and regional economy.”

Tocardo T-1

Shipment of three Tocardo T-1 tidal turbines

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Three T-1 turbines delivered in Pembroke

On behalf of the board of Tocardo BV I’m proud to share this news with the rest of the world.  After winning the tender last year, preparations, procurement, lots of manhours and persistence we have managed to ship three Tocardo T-1 tidal turbines. The bi-directional turbines have been successfully transported towards Pembroke dock where they will be installed on QED Naval’s Subhub community scale platform. The full systems integration will be conducted at the quayside. This is much safer and logistically easier than connecting up tidal turbine systems offshore.

The T-1 turbine

The T-1 is Tocardo’s community scale solution. By generating energy in a predictable and cost-effective way the T-1 is the best tidal turbine in its market segment with power outputs ranging from 40 to 100 kW. Due to its relatively small size, it can be installed in shallow waters (4 meters and deeper). The turbines are made to last with very minimal maintenance. The design lifetime is at least 20 years.

Cutting down LCOE

Logistics operations have a significant impact on the LCOE of our technology. We are convinced that it is better to install a larger number of medium sized turbines; turbines that can be brought to a (remote) project location by means of regular available (road) transport. The three Tocardo T-1’s will be utilized on the novel Subhub design. Subhub is a submersible, gravity based, foundation platform that supports every need of tidal turbines through life. After the system integration at the quayside the cost for the installation offshore is quite low because for the deployment QED Naval will be using low-cost harbor tugs only.

A big thank you

A big thank you goes out to: the team, contractors and all supply chain partners who helped us with their service and expertise to achieve this new milestone for Tocardo BV.

#1000 Solutions

Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label for our technology

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#1000solutions

Tocardo’s technology has received the “Solar Impulse Efficient Solution” Label, an award for clean and profitable solutions. Thanks to our expertise, our strong portfolio of products and our commitment to reliable, sustainable energy solutions our tidal energy turbine technology was attributed the “Solar Impulse Efficient Solution” Label following an assessment performed by external independent experts and based on verified standards. It is thereby joining the #1000solutions challenge, an initiative by the Solar Impulse Foundation to select solutions that meet high standards in profitability and sustainability and present them to decision-makers to fast-track their implementation.

Renewables have grown rapidly in recent year, but in many cases intermittency of supply remains an issue. Tidal energy offers a solution to this by providing a dependable power source that can support and enhance existing green energy solutions. Tocardo’s tidal turbine solution makes use of the tides and river streams to propel blades and offer customers local, predictable and balanced power generation. With the worldwide tidal market potential being 500 GW, tidal power innovations such as Tocardo’s turbines hold huge environmental and economic potential.

To receive the “Solar Impulse Efficient Solution” Label, our technology was thoroughly assessed by a pool of independent experts. According to five criteria covering the three main topics of Feasibility, Environmental and Profitability. All labelled solutions are part of the #1000solutions portfolio that will be presented to decision-makers in business and government by Bertrand Piccard, Chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation. The aim of this initiative is to encourage the adoption of more ambitious environmental targets and fast-track the implementation of these solutions on a large scale.

About the “Solar Impulse Efficient Solution” Label

One of the first labels for positive impact businesses bringing together protection of the environment and financial viability, the “Solar Impulse Efficient Solution” Label is attributed following an assessment performed by external independent experts. In collaboration with renowned institutions, solutions applying for the label must go through a neutral methodology based on verified standards. This label serves as an award for clean and profitable solutions.

About the Solar Impulse Foundation

The Solar Impulse Foundation is dedicated to accelerating the implementation of clean and profitable solutions. Moreover, the Foundation is helping decision-makers in businesses and governments to achieve their environmental targets and adopt more ambitious energy policies, which are necessary to pull these solutions to market. A way to carry the success of the first solar-powered flight around the world further.