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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.

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.

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.”

HydroWing Ltd

Tidal Hydrogen Production Storage and Offtake

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HydroWing in partnership with Tocardo is delighted to introduce the THyPSO (Tidal Hydrogen production, Storage and Offtake), a n innovative and novel concept that creates green hydrogen from the sea, contributing to the wider global decarbonisation of energy systems.

THyPSO is a floating platform, housing 1 – 6 conventional bi-directional tidal turbines that convert tidal flows into electrical energy, which is then directed through an integrated hydrogen production unit, converting the unlimited supply of surrounding seawater into hydrogen, an energy-dense and versatile commodity.

THyPSO has capacity to hold up to two weeks’ worth of hydrogen production in pressurised storage tanks. Offtake is scheduled autonomously by remote communications and discharge occurs within a single slack tide. A simple and safe procedure using an offtake vessel moored down-stream of the device, connected via a pressurised delivery hose.

Hydrogen is a much more versatile commodity than electricity, it can be stored and used for a wide range of applications, eliminating carbon emissions from maritime transport, agriculture, aquaculture, fishing, tourism, leisure, Petro-chemicals, road transport, rail transport and grid balancing.

THyPSO combines the advantages of tidal and hydrogen technologies, mutually overcoming technical and financial barriers faced by each technology alone. By being autonomous of the grid and eliminates expensive and high-risk subsea infrastructure, creating substantial savings on OPEX and CAPEX, as well as installation and decommission.

Another key issue with producing electricity from any renewable source is the intermittency of production. By producing hydrogen instead of electricity, the offtake and onward distribution can be actively managed and scheduled to suit weather windows and market demands at the time. Consenting, installation, and decommissioning are other areas where substantial time and costs can be saved.

The THyPSO project will demonstrate streamlined implementation of tidal energy projects with a view to upscaling and rolling out larger projects across Europe and the rest of the world in the coming years in line with the ever-growing demand for green sourced hydrogen.

Richard Parkinson, Managing Director, HydroWing Limited: ‘This project has shifted our focus to a broader and exciting market where we can make use of our tides to provide a more versatile energy mix into the local communities and beyond. I sincerely hope that we can inspire greater use of green hydrogen in the marine sector as a result of this project.’

Andries van Unen, CEO, Tocardo B.V.: ‘This project provides a new perspective and a versatile use for tidal turbines. The project is well suited to the range of Tocardo turbines allowing us to effectively scale up as demand for green hydrogen increases into the future.’