Giant whirlpools, 100-knot winds, some of Europe’s mightiest tides: The icy waters off Scotland’s northern tip are no place for pleasure craft. But they’re ideal for power-generation systems that harness the restless fury of the sea — which is why the European Marine Energy Centre has set up shop in the Orkney Islands.
Think of it as the Bonneville Salt Flats of hydrokinetics: EMEC offers companies a place to try out their clean tech. The center’s remotely operated vehicles film underwater, and microphones will eventually monitor for noise pollution. First in was Dublin-based OpenHydro, which recently began trials on its second turbine (shown here raised for inspection).
Carbon-free hydrokinetic power could ultimately provide up to 20 percent of the UK’s electricity needs. But environmental concerns may still sink the effort: Critics warn of industrialized coastlines and harm to sea life.
The US faces similar challenges — without a testing facility. The Federal […]
Original post by Andrew Blum
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