Tidal energy device has reportedly produced power during the demonstration trials which took place earlier this month off the coast of Kuchinoshima island in Japan.
The 100kW floating device, developed by IHI Corporation and New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), has managed to produce energy of up to 30kW during the demonstration, Japan’s national broadcaster NHK TV has reported.
The trials took place mid-August, 5 km off the Japanese Kagoshima Prefecture, at a site that harbors the powerful north-flowing ocean current named Kuroshio Current.
The aim of the trials was to verify power generation and control system of the device, the developers said earlier, stating their plans to commercialize the technology by 2020.