NI tidal power turbine blades damaged

An innovative tidal power turbine in the North has been damaged, its owner said today.

Two blades at one end of the SeaGen energy system were affected by a computer programming fault last week. Once the system is completely operational it will generate 1.2 megawatts of power, supplying the equivalent of 1,000 homes.

Full commissioning of the Strangford Lough, Co Down, device will be pushed back until early autumn as one of the replacement parts isn’t immediately available.

A spokesman for SeaGen said: “During the commissioning of the SeaGen tidal energy system...two turbine blades, on one end of SeaGen’s crossbeam, have unfortunately been damaged.

“One of the turbine blades has been removed from SeaGen’s crossbeam for inspection.”

Owners Marine Current Turbines’ engineering team believes the damage to the blades was caused by a computer programming fault in the control system affecting operation of one of two SeaGen 600kW turbines.

The spokesman added: “A full investigation is being carried out by the company into the incident that took place on July 17, with work already under way to replace the damaged blades.”

The other turbine will continue to generate electricity into the national grid on a test basis.

“Due to this unforeseen event, the full commissioning of SeaGen will be pushed back until the early autumn as one of the replacement blades is not immediately available,” the spokesman added.

“The fixing of the new blades is expected to be routine and due to SeaGen’s innovative design they will be fixed by raising the crossbeam and power units above the water, allowing for easier and safer access.”

SeaGen works like an underwater windmill, with rotors driven by currents rather than the wind. Strangford Lough has an energetic tide.

British Energy Secretary John Hutton’s department has granted £5.2m (€6.5m) to help the system become a reality and plans to double financial support for marine technologies. Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) has provided £500,000 (€629,000) for the project.

SeaGen was installed in Strangford Lough in May this year and grid connection work has been taking place since then.

Irish energy company ESB Independent Energy will purchase power from SeaGen for customers in Ireland north and south.

Other areas harnessing the power of the tides include the new testing facility at the European Marine Energy Centre (Emec), off the coast of Scottish island Orkney.