Bureau Veritas: New guide to boost current and tidal turbines

Bureau Veritas has published a new guide, NI 603 Current and Tidal Turbines, intended to help the development of current and tidal turbines.

The guidelines are backed by a separate guide to certification for marine renewable energy devices including tidal turbines, wave energy converters and ocean thermal energy conversion.

Bureau Veritas aims to set standards specific to current and tidal turbines and guidelines on certification for them, in order to help tidal and wave energy developers ensure the commercial viability of their projects.

Philippe Donche-Gay, Executive Vice-President and Head of the Marine and Offshore Division of Bureau Veritas, said: “Emerging technologies that generate electricity by harnessing the power of tidal streams, waves and temperature gradients, are moving from research phase to commercial use.

“We think that over the next five to ten years, the number of tidal turbines in particular is set to multiply. There is a clear need for standards and certification in this fast-developing field.”

NI 603 Current and Tidal Turbines sets down guidelines applicable to current and tidal turbines which are installed on the seabed and which produce electricity from tidal power, underwater current power or estuary water power, Bureau Veritas’ press relese reads.

The guide also covers the materials and loads for the support structure, including foundations and turbine, as well the requirements for the electrical installation.

The sections on life-cycle considerations, manufacturing, installation, commissioning, maintenance and decommissioning are included as well.

The Marine Renewable Energy Guide to Certification sets out how developers in these emerging fields can approach certification of their units and prototypes.

Bureau Veritas is a classification society and offshore verification body, that offers testing, inspection and certification services to help clients meet quality, safety, environmental protection and social responsibility challenges.

Image: Bureau Veritas