This phase is to conclude by 2005, giving way to the start of commercial installations.

The goal then will be to complete almost 600MW of installations by 2010.

MCT believes their technology has the potential to deliver thousands of megawatts of clean power as predictably as the tides at a lower cost than with most other renewable energy resources. Tidal turbines will actually benefit from being tightly packed within a seabed area, thus delivering a promised four times the energy intensity of a good windfarm site.

Weight is not a problem for submerged machines so construction will be more like ships than airplanes and, as conditions underwater do not vary greatly even in severe weather, there is a lower requirement to over-engineer the turbines to cope with 'worst case' operating conditions.

Marine current turbines function much like submarine windmills, installed in the sea with high tidal current velocities of 4-5 knots in water depths of from 20-35m. MCT's technology consists of an axial flow rotor of 15-20m diameter which drives a generator via a gearbox much like a hydro-electric turbine or a wind turbine.

The power unit is mounted on a tubular steel monopile of 2-3m diameter which is set in a hole drilled into the seabed from a jack-up barge. This technology is well developed by Seacore Ltd, which is co-operating with MCT on the project. The UK has a particularly good marine current resource with a number of possible locations, many of which are off the west coast of Scotland.

The Trinity House Lighthouse Service has designed an aids to navigation package to be mounted atop the turbine tower and has also been closely involved in statutory marking requirements.

The aids to navigation package, which will safeguard both ships and towers, will be assembled and tested by Trinity House prior to installation and maintenance by the operators.

MJInformation No: 17401