The first BlueTEC Tidal Energy platform has formally been named by the Mayor of Texel, the Netherlands. The floating platform, which holds tidal turbines below the sea surface, will soon be positioned near the island of Texel – supplying clean electricity to the Dutch grid.
Bluewater's first BlueTEC will serve as a demonstration platform targeted at remote locations world-wide, such as islands in Indonesia, Philippines and the Pacific. It is also the start of further development of higher capacity tidal energy platforms, to be deployed in large farms.
Installation Offshore Texel
The coming weeks, the platform will be installed offshore the island of Texel and connected to the Dutch electricity grid – starting its electricity production before summer. It is meant to stay there producing electricity for several years, allowing multiple turbines to be tried out.
Shipped as Containers
This platform is targeted at a worldwide market, it can be shipped as containers and installed anywhere in the world, to provide clean electricity in remote areas and small islands, replacing expensive and polluting diesel generators. An important advantage of tidal energy is its predictability and consistency, bringing stability to local electricity grids.
As all vulnerable electronic equipment is safely housed inside the unit, with easy access from the surface since it floats, inspection for maintenance and repair purposes is a straightforward matter. It is also the first time that a complete, integrated tidal system is offered to the market.
Modular Barge System
The platform is a development of Damen’s modular barge system – a flexible product that can be put into effect in the construction of a wide range of vessels from dredgers and jetties to ferries and pontoons. Damen used three standard container-sized modules to construct the Texel platform. The efficiency of containerised transportation combined with uncomplicated assembly means that the platform can be transported and installed anywhere in the world.
Read more about the BlueTEC platform in SWZ Maritime's March issue (for subscribers only).
