Japan’s IHI Corporation has completed initial tests of a 100kW tidal stream prototype off Kuchinoshima island in Kagoshima prefecture.
IHI said the device co-developed with the state-backed New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization generated 30kW during testing.
The device was tested for around one week to verify its power generation performance and control system.
IHI performed tow tests ahead of the deployment to generate sea condition data.
The device features two 50kW 11-metre diameter rotors with a flow rate of three knots.
The tidal generator measures 20 metres long by 20 metres wide and 11 metres high and features an onboard transformer.
IHI plans to commercialise the technology by 2020.
Image: 100kW tidal device (IHI Corporation)
IHI wraps Japan tidal tests
100kW device deployed off Kuchinoshima island in Kagoshima prefecture
By EBS