Tidal Technologies Limited is building a vertical-axis turbine called TT2, inspired by America's Cup yacht sails, to generate electricity from the slower tidal currents that dominate UK coastal waters. Existing horizontal-axis tidal turbines work best in fast, high-energy flows—but most of the UK's tidal resource moves more slowly. TT2's steel foils are designed to extract commercially viable power from these medium-velocity streams, effectively doubling the amount of tidal energy the UK can tap. The turbine also sits on a modular concrete base with generators and electronics housed above the waves in storm-proof containers, cutting both construction and maintenance costs. If TT2 succeeds, tidal energy could reliably supply around 11% of UK electricity—predictable power that wind and solar cannot guarantee without expensive storage. The UK has one of the world's best tidal resources, equivalent to 10 gigawatts of installed capacity. Globally, the market could reach $53 billion annually by 2050. This project directly addresses a practical gap: making tidal power cost-competitive in the medium-energy sites that make up most of the accessible resource.
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Tidal Technologies Limited (TTL) is a UK-based company developing TT2, a highly innovative vertical axis turbine (VAT) arrangement, designed for large-scale offshore Tidal Stream Energy (TSE) generation in prevalent medium energy offshore tidal streams. Inspired by the stiff wing sails from Americas Cup racing yachts, the design of TT2's turbine foils enables commercially viable levels of energy output to be generated from the prevalent lower to medium tidal velocities around the Wales and English coastlines (Ouro et al, 2022). This is highly complimentary to the existing horizontal axis turbines (HATs) which operate more effectively at higher tidal velocities and therefore the introduction of TT2 ensures that more of the tidal resources available around the UK coast are addressable. Other aspects of TT2's simple yet innovative design drive reductions in capital expenditure and operations & maintenance (O&M) costs, per MWh produced. These include a low cost, modular, concrete seabed gravity base and tower which extends above water, with wind turbine style generators and all associated electrical equipment supported above the waves in storm proof containers. The combination of these unique patented design features facilitates a step change in levelised cost of energy (LCOE) projections giving TT2 huge global potential. The core project team includes Jamie Scrimgeour (Founder/Inventor), Archie Sandberg (Project Manager), Jim Conybeare-Cross (CFO) and James Diddams (Engineer/Subcontractor, MD of Achelous Engineering). The team have many years of experience in managing complex projects and businesses, with Achelous Engineering -- a UK based engineering consultancy - being a leader in the field of VATs for rivers. Significant further growth in renewables is urgently required to slow climate change, which is seriously impacting global human health, food security, water resources and global ecosystems. To achieve the UK's 2050 net-zero targets and meet international commitments, the UK must decarbonise its national electricity grid with renewable alternatives that reliably balance the grid. Wind and solar energy are unpredictable, and energy storage is expensive. The UK, however, has one of the largest reliable and predictable tidal resources in the world (equivalent to 10GW of installed capacity) and tidal energy could reliably deliver c11% of national energy requirements (UK Marine Energy Council) and 500GW globally worth $53bn annually by 2050 (Ocean Energy Europe, 2024).
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