Tidal energy for Northern Ireland

The world's first large scale commercial tidal stream energy generator has been installed at Strongford Loch in Northern Ireland.


Marine Current Turbines are behind the generator, named SeaGen, and received funding from both government and nPower to develop their innovations in harnessing tidal power.

Martin Wright, the managing director at Marine Current Turbines, said: “Tidal energy has the great advantage of being predictable and no other system can harness the power of the tidal currents in the way this one can.”

He said that his company sees great potential in the technology and hopes to expand it to make a contribution to future energy needs in the British Isles and Ireland.

The Renewable Energy Centre has said the project is positive for the sector and could soon be operational for profit.

They say that tidal power technology in now moving towards commercial independence and similar projects could be sources of clean, renewable energy in the future.

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