Tidal Energy More Tangible for Territory, Australia

Power and Water has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Tenax Energy to build a 2MW tidal energy plant and tidal energy testing centre.

The move brings a tropical tidal energy supply for the Top End a step closer.

Power and Water’s Manager Sustainable Energy Trevor Horman said Power and Water was very interested in sourcing cost-competitive renewable energy for its customers.

“Tidal power from the Clarence Strait has the potential to provide a significant percentage of Darwin’s electricity supply,” he said.

“We’re delighted to be taking this first step towards that.”

Tenax will establish a 2MW tidal energy plant and tropical testing centre. It is envisaged a 10MW testing array will follow.

“This staged process allows us to establish appropriate environmental and performance standards in a tropical environment,” Mr Horman said.

“Maintaining a tidal energy array in a tropical environment will potentially require new technical solutions but we hope this will prove a safe, reliable and inexhaustible energy source.”

The region is one of the largest tidal resources close to a major centre, with a potential generation capacity of 450MW. Darwin’s current peak demand is about 300MW.

The project is expected to generate power by 2015, reaching a commercial scale by the end of the decade.

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Press Release, September 25, 2012;  Image: Tenax Energy