Orbital Marine Power Ltd, a leading renewable energy company specializing in the deployment of its innovative floating tidal turbine, has been selected as the technology partner for Orcas Power & Light Cooperative’s (OPALCO) proposed project near Blakely Island in Rosario Strait, Washington State.
This development builds on a memorandum of understanding signed between Orbital and OPALCO in 2021 and follows the U.S. Department of Energy’s recent decision to shortlist two marine energy projects to receive a total of US$6 million for the development of a pilot site for the research, development and demonstration of tidal energy. At the end of the Phase 1 period, one of the two projects will be chosen to fully develop the project.
The deployment of the floating tidal turbine O2
If OPALCO is selected at the end of the ten-month process, it proposes to deploy an Orbital O2 floating tidal turbine in Rosario Strait in the San Juan Islands to provide local power and conduct additional assessments as part of Phase 1. Rosario Strait has been identified as a viable site due to its strong tidal currents, proximity to OPALCO’s interconnection infrastructure and minimal environmental impacts.
The Orbital O2 floating tidal turbine. Source: Orbital Marine Power
Andrew Scott, CEO of Orbital Marine Powerexpressed his satisfaction with OPALCO’s progress in this important financing process and the focus on implementing Orbital’s technology. Although much work remains to be done before its technology is deployed in U.S. waters, this milestone highlights the growing global interest in the advances Orbital is demonstrating in the field of floating tidal streams.
For his part, Foster Hildreth, Chief Executive Officer of OPALCO noted that there are no single or simple solutions to address the complexities of future energy supply in a decarbonized world. OPALCO is exploring all possible technologies to build reliable, sustainable, carbon-free resources to meet San Juan County’s energy needs.
Floating tidal stream energy, such as that provided by the Orbital O2, is one such technology that could be suitable for its island territory.
The collaboration between Orbital Marine Power and OPALCO undoubtedly underlines the potential of tidal energy as a sustainable and efficient solution for island communities, marking a step forward in the search for renewable alternatives.
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Source and photo: orbitalmarine.com
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