Humber tidal project passes power tests  

The BBChas an article on a tidal power pilot in the Humber Estuary (the numbers below should probably read 1 MW rather than 1,000 MW) - Humber tidal project passes power tests.

A major step forward in using the tidal power of the Humber estuary to generate electricity has been completed by engineers.

Neptune Renewable Energy has said it produced power from its demonstration unit at Hull's Albert dock following three months of tests.

Now engineers are preparing to install a commercial site at Sammy's Point in the Humber estuary in early 2011.

Power from that will be used to run The Deep aquarium in Hull.

The Proteus NP 1000 tidal stream power generator weighs more than 150 tonnes and will be 20m (65ft) in length. It is made of steel buoyancy hulls carrying a turbine and 6m (19ft) rotors.

Engineers from the firm believe, that based on the dock tests, the system would be able to generate at least 1,000 megawatts and claim this could meet the energy needs of more than 500 homes.