Cover Change Inc. June 2021Change Inc.

The potential of tidal power in the Netherlands

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The potential of tidal power in the Netherlands

In the past month, much attention has been paid to Tocardo’s activities in the Netherlands and the potential of tidal power in the Netherlands. Our power plant in the Dutch icon Eastern Scheldt barrier plays a starring role to underwrite the business potential. For everyone who missed it or who doesn’t master the Dutch language, here’s a summary for you!

Change Inc.

We are very pleased that the Dutch platform Change Inc. lately published an article about the potential of this renewable energy source in the Netherlands and Tocardo in particular. Change Inc is a platform that connects people, business and ideas for a better future. Change Inc. is independent, objective and relevant. That makes Change Inc. a powerful and platform for people working on SDG’s. A brief summary of this article: A diverse energy network is a more secure, resilient and cost-effective. Wind and Solar alone cannot replace fossil fuel power generation, the complementary characteristics of tidal energy will be crucial for a successful transition.

Virtual Gateway to the Netherlands showcases OTP in VR

Tocardo OTP project is also present at the Virtual Gateway to the Netherlands. The Virtual gateway enables foreign business and governments to experience Dutch solutions and products without traveling but still connects with everyone involved. Get your VR cardboard ready and watch the video here!

Tocardo OTP

Dutch Parliament and the VR experience

A Parliamentary debate was held on 10 June, in which the letter to Parliament regarding Electricity from Water was also on the agenda. Prior to the debate, DMEC handed over a photobook to gain attention for the sector and some of the present parliamentarians viewed the VR experience. During July the outcome of the debate will become public. In the Dutch province of Zeeland, tidal energy can contribute approximately 9% (1 PJ) per annum to the total production of renewable energy (11 PJ).

OTP

Join our development team

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Join our development team

Join our development team! At Tocardo we are looking for people who lead the way, because we cannot keep talking about the sustainable future; we prefer to turn our vision into reality. If you want to be part of the successful transition towards a renewable energy system join our team! Currently we have got two open positions in our development team based in Wieringerwerf, the Netherlands.

Chief Technical Officer
As a Chief Technical Officer, you manage the engineering team and support the integration of our turbine technology with the foundation solutions and the grid, where you are responsible for overseeing the whole chain.

Electrical Engineer
As an Electrical Engineer you will become a member of our technology development team working on our cutting-edge tidal turbine technology, being responsible for overseeing and development of the electrical design, SCADA system, PLC’s and testing components including several related sub-systems.

We are looking for people who lead the way. Our workshop and office are situated nearby Medemblik, in a region where traffic jams are infrequent.

ICEO 2021

Energizing a Powerful Blue Economy – ICOE 2021 presentation

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International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE) 2021

Tocardo is delighted to share the results of a two years multidisciplinary investigations of environmental effects of Tocardo’s tidal power plant in the Eastern Scheldt at ICOE 2021. The ocean energy industry will come together April 28-30, 2021 during the all-virtual ICOE 2021 conference to discuss device innovation, market developments and regulatory affairs to support the commercialization of the sector. This major event is hosted by the National Hydropower Association (NHA), and is supported by the International Energy Agency (IEA) through Ocean Energy Systems (OES).

Multidisciplinary Investigations of environmental effects of the Tocardo’s 1.25 MW tidal power plant

The Oosterschelde storm surge barrier is a dam that contains 62 gates that can be closed during storm surges. In 2015, Tocardo Tidal Power installed a 1.2MW tidal power plant in one of the gates comprising an array of 5 turbines. The presentation at ICOE discusses the methods and results of a unique two-year monitoring program to assess impacts on both the biotic and abiotic ecosystem as well as effects on the reliability of the storm surge barrier itself. The collaborative research project was lead by MET-support on behalf of Tocardo and undertaken by four renowned Dutch research institutes: Wageningen Marine Research, Deltares, Technical University of Delft and University of Utrecht. The Zeeuwse Milieu Federation (ZMF) facilitated regional stakeholder meetings.

In the download section below you can find the following publications and reports in relation to this project:

About the OP-Zuid program

The collaborative research project was supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the OP-Zuid program 2014–2020 and with financial support from province of Zeeland. Research by TU-Delft was also supported by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research within the research program The New Delta with project number 869.15.008

SubhubQED Naval

Contract award – Supply of Tidal Turbines and Service Contract to QED Naval Ltd

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Contract award

We are proud to announce that Tocardo has been awarded the contract to supply three tidal turbines to QED Naval for their Subhub platform. The renowned Tocardo T-1 turbines have been selected by QED Naval to be combined with their innovative, self-deploying, submersible foundation system. For the whole organisation this means a major step forward, after the restart at the beginning of 2020, the growth path to further roll-out of the technology in the offshore market has now been definitively opened.

The Tocardo T-1 turbine

The T-1 is Tocardo’s most proven turbine. In 2015 Tocardo installed three T-1 turbines in the Afsluitdijk tidal barrage, a 32 km long primary sea defence, next to the existing Den Oever project installation, which has a single T-1 installed in 2008. All electricity produced was fed into the grid. The turbines provided vital data and experience in turbine arrays. The array had a capacity of more than 300 kW, producing electricity for approximately one hundred local households. In 2019 both sites were decommissioned as a result of the multi-year project to raise the Afsluitdijk in connection with the expected sea level rise. 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 50 to 125 kW.

Trials with the Subhub

As part of Interreg’s EU TIGER project, QED Naval are developing a site in the Solent in collaboration with Yarmouth Harbour Commission. The site is located between Sconce Point and Black Rock and will be used as a development site. QED Naval has submitted a planning application to the Marine Management Organisation to carry out performance and yield validation trials on the Subhub with the Tocardo T-1 tidal turbines. QED Naval will then go on to develop its 1 MW unit with Tocardo turbines.

About the Tiger project

The EU funded TIGER project will demonstrate that tidal energy is a maturing industry, capable of achieving an accelerated cost reduction pathway. The project will build cross-border partnerships to develop new technologies, test and demonstrate up to 8 MW of new tidal capacity at a number of locations around the Channel region, and use the learning from this development to make a stronger, cost-effective case for tidal energy as part of the France/UK energy mix.

Oosterschelde Tidal Powerplant resumed full continuous operations again

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After the announcement of the acquisition of the Tocardo OTP project in October 2020, we have worked hard to complete the commissioning- and testing phase of this unique project. On Monday 1st February the Oosterschelde Tidal Powerplant, made up of a platform of 5 x T-2, 250kW Tocardo tidal turbines, resumed full continuous operations again. This impressive and iconic Netherlands infrastructure project clearly demonstrates the global potential of energy from water in harmony with the environment.

Macquarie Group, GIG, recently showcased the OTP dam project and its global potential at the Climate Adaption Summit 2021. To see this hard work and project get such recognition makes us all very proud. This Dutch ‘Energy from Water’ initiative is a great example for the future. It showcases an energy solution that integrates nature and has an ability to simply scale up. There are some 400 global tidal deltas at risk of flooding that could benefit from such infrastructure and climate adaptation solutions.

For our clients we apply the learnings that we gain – tide after tide – from our showcase project at the Dutch icon the Eastern Scheldt storm barrier. We have seen the impact our technology and commitment has, and we believe that – working in partnership with QED Naval & HydroWing – we can and will change the world for the better.

An exciting opportunity for investors!

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An exciting opportunity for investors!

Now is your chance to get involved: our Edinburgh-based business partner QED Naval has launched its first crowdfunding campaign on the Seedrs platform. The funding will assist further develop existing sites and to secure potential new locations for its patented Subhub tidal platform. The company (QED) also secured an award of €3.5m of EU funding and a place on Interreg’s €46m Tidal Stream Industry Energiser Project (TIGER) last year. Your green impact investment in renewable tidal energy with QED will help further demonstrate our key efficiencies, as outlined above, to the $76bn global market which we are addressing.

Subhub

One of the key design drivers for Subhub was to minimise the environmental impact of the platform. The best way to do that is to make it a seabed mounted system so it is invisible from the surface and maintains the seascape and navigation channels of shipping. It is beyond the diving depth of most birds. Advantageously, it means the extremes of wave loading are exponentially less than at the surface. Subhub is a submersible, gravity based foundation that supports an array of tidal turbines through life. It’s hydrodynamic hull form steers and accelerates the flow into the turbines to significantly enhancing the energy yield having a dramatic impact on the Levelised Cost Of Energy (LCOE) of the overall project.

The added value of tidal power

QED Naval managing director Jeremy Smith said: “Tidal energy is not only renewable, it is the only one that is 100% predictable, can guarantee power output every day of the year, and globally will be worth $76bn by 2050. “So, when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not out, tidal can quite simply fill the gaps in our grid requirement and prevent us having to switch to diesel, gas or coal power.

Get involved

This is a unique opportunity for QED Naval to supercharge their growth, by bringing investors on board as shareholders. This fundraising round will allow them to get going on all the incredible initiatives they have planned for the future. Get involved!

Impact Fest 2020

Marine Energy: The Next Big Thing in Energy (webinar)

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Webinar hosted by DMEC

As part of the OEEC 2020, the webinar ‘The Next Big Thing’ will take place on Wednesday 28 October 2020. During this webinar, DMEC, REDstack and Tocardo will tell you more about the potential of energy from water in the Netherlands. Furthermore we will showcase projects and highlight our ambitions for the future. Of course there is also the possibility for the participants to ask questions!

About ImpactFest

ImpactFest is Europe’s biggest online impact meetup. ImpactCity continues its mission of ‘doing good & doing business’ to drive innovations for a better world with the 5th edition of ImpactFest. Together we take on the challenges the world is facing. Utilizing online possibilities, impact makers from around the world will connect. From sharing lessons learned and investors meeting innovators to master classes, ImpactFest provides impact makers with the opportunity to take new steps in their mission and accelerate innovation.

Wanna join this session?

The ImpactFest consists of different online elements, all focused on connecting in order to drive knowledge and experience sharing, deal-making and inspiration. You can order your ticket here. After you’ve ordered your ticket and signed in, you’ll be able to select your own program elements spread out over the different days.

Tocardo OTP

Tocardo Acquires the Largest Tidal Array in the World

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Tocardo has come to an agreement on the acquisition of the 1.25MW Oosterschelde Tidal Power Plant, the largest tidal array in the world installed on the Dutch icon Oosterscheldekering. The acquisition follows the successful technical due diligence phase during September 2020. The project is an important step for the global tidal energy sector and for our clean energy future.

The Oosterschelde Tidal Power Plant consists of five T-2 tidal turbines in one of the sluice gates of the Oosterschelde storm surge barrier, with the potential of scaling up. It serves as an international showcase for the tidal energy sector and climate adaptation solutions, combining clean energy production with existing infrastructures and making efficient use of scarce land area.

“At Tocardo we are looking forward to taking this unique project forward to the benefit of the local area in terms of jobs, supply chain development and making an impact to the net zero targets. This exemplar project will be run as a R&D facility and shop window for similar global developments which provides significant export opportunities” – Andries van Unen, CEO of Tocardo.

The timing of the transaction couldn’t be better for the company, especially now that national and local politicians are paying renewed attention to the potential of energy from water in The Netherlands. Dutch Minister Wiebes (Economic Affairs and Climate) has a roadmap to electricity from water in 2030 drawn up, which should be ready before the end of this year.

Tidal Stream Power Generation

Tidal energy is reliable and predictable, and therefore offers flexible baseload energy that powers households when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine. Beside a significant reduction of CO2 emissions, tidal energy also contributes to a reduction in the emission of all other types of greenhouse gas, such as methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). These gases are released during the combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, to produce power. Dutch technology developers estimate the technical potential for tidal energy in the Netherlands at 150-250 MW.

Oosterschelde Tidal Power Plant

The entire Oosterschelde Tidal Power Plant consists of five T-2 tidal turbines supplied & designed by Tocardo. These turbines are installed on a single hydraulic lift frame designed, constructed and supplied by Huisman in late 2015. Commissioning was completed with commercial full operation commencing in August 2016. Despite the limited possibilities as a result of the global COVID 19 outbreak, constructive consultations have been held with the parties involved to create a broadly supported solution surrounding the preservation of the installation in the future. The management of Tocardo is therefore grateful to all parties involved for their constructive attitude shown during this period.

The Project

The completion of this deal has cost a lot of effort over a long period of time, which is testament to the work put in behind the scenes by the Administrators, Tocardo and Rijkswaterstaat (operator of the Delta Works Barriers). Tocardo also received support from Dutch Marine Energy Centre (DMEC) in helping to present the case for preserving the project.

About Tocardo

Tocardo is fully owned by HydroWing Ltd. and QED Naval Ltd. This tripartite, collaborative partnership brings together decades of multi-sector expertise as well as a blend of well tested, complementary products. The joint venture provides a truly end to end service with a spectrum of turbines, foundation systems, marine operations, as well as design, support and service expertise. Tocardo is one of the world’s leading tidal turbine developers renowned for the robust and reliable turbines resulting from a development history spanning the sectors entirety, over twenty years ago, and the largest portfolio of projects operated by any developer in the sector.

Jeremy Smith, MD QED Naval: “This is an amazing opportunity for Tocardo to demonstrate its wares and capabilities. It is also a great platform to introduce further innovations to improve the performance of the turbines and reduce costs. All this whilst producing clean renewable energy into the Dutch electricity grid and generating revenue to sustain the business allowing it to grow rapidly. The size of the prize is significant in Holland but massive when put in the context of a global market opportunities this project opens up.”

Richard Parkinson, MD HydroWing: “Our main objective in taking over the operation of the OTP project is to gain an understanding of how the turbines can be developed and to inform financial models for integration into commercial projects worldwide. This platform is an excellent test bed to develop the turbines while maintaining low OPEX and informing future design developments. Well done to our CEO Andries van Unen for making this complex deal happen.”

Britta Schaffmeister, CEO DMEC: “This marks an exciting stepping stone for the tidal energy sector. Now home to the world’s largest tidal array, the Netherlands is becoming a true frontrunner in harnessing the power of water. Lessons learned here will prove instrumental for more game changers in tidal energy.”

#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.