Home Marine Energy European project shows potential for significant reduction in tidal energy costs
December 14, 2023, by Nadja Skopljak
Exciting news from a European project led by Scottish tidal energy developer Nova Innovation – the cost of tidal energy could potentially be reduced by as much as 40%. The €20 million EnFAIT (Enabling Future Arrays in Tidal) Horizon 2020 project demonstrated exceptional array performance, with the new turbines ready to generate power for an impressive 95% of the time. This brings tidal energy one step closer to being a key player in the global renewable energy market.
The project, which lasted from 2017 until recently, brought together important players like Nova Innovation and the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, both instrumental in the research and development of tidal energy. This has significantly advanced tidal energy technology, with the time between turbine maintenance periods extended from six months to two and a half years.
One of the most exciting aspects of the project is the extensive data that was collected about the environmental effects of tidal turbines. The findings indicate no evidence of adverse effects on marine wildlife, which is a significant step forward for sustainable energy solutions. The success of the project also strengthened the local supply chain by utilizing 70% Scottish content and 100% European content across its lifetime.
Last month, Nova Innovation secured EU funding for a 4 MW tidal energy farm that will be home to the largest number of tidal turbines anywhere in the world. These are all remarkable milestones for tidal energy development and contribute significantly to Scotland’s response to the global climate emergency. For more information on this groundbreaking project, read the full article here.
