Marine Energy WalesMarine Energy Wales

State of the sector 2021 report – Marine Energy Wales

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Marine Energy Wales

Wales is working hard to gain the early mover advantage to position itself as a global leader for the marine energy sector. Marine Energy Wales brings together technology developers, supply chain, academia and the public sector. Recently Marine Energy Wales published their state of the sector report edition 2021. Furthermore, Marine Energy Wales works to create a supportive policy environment to ensure that Wales remains one of the hotspots for emerging technologies such as tidal energy. Based upon their latest insights they are successful; the investment in the sector increased.

Investment in the marine energy sector has increased for the fifth year in a row

The 2021 State of the Sector report – published July 20th – details the recent developments in the industry, and looks forward to what the future has to offer. The key message of this report is: investment in the marine energy sector has increased for the fifth year in a row. Twenty emerging developers are progressing projects in Wales. In addition, four test and demonstration sites are under development. You can download the full report here: State of the Sector 2021

The importance of Welsh developments for Tocardo

In view of the region’s scale and ambitions, we closely monitor these developments. Not least because our JV partners have ambitions to install capacity on the Morlais tidal site. Wales has benefitted from our ambitions already with QED Naval establishing itself here and from recent orders and, as QED sets about acquiring site options for the future.

Jeremy Smith & Keith Murray

QED is now showcasing its community scale Subhub platform equiped with our robust and proven Tocardo T-1 tidal turbines. Furthermore, QED is building its next generation 1 MW industrial scale platform.

Cover Change Inc. June 2021Change Inc.

The potential of tidal power in the Netherlands

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The potential of tidal power in the Netherlands

In the past month, much attention has been paid to Tocardo’s activities in the Netherlands and the potential of tidal power in the Netherlands. Our power plant in the Dutch icon Eastern Scheldt barrier plays a starring role to underwrite the business potential. For everyone who missed it or who doesn’t master the Dutch language, here’s a summary for you!

Change Inc.

We are very pleased that the Dutch platform Change Inc. lately published an article about the potential of this renewable energy source in the Netherlands and Tocardo in particular. Change Inc is a platform that connects people, business and ideas for a better future. Change Inc. is independent, objective and relevant. That makes Change Inc. a powerful and platform for people working on SDG’s. A brief summary of this article: A diverse energy network is a more secure, resilient and cost-effective. Wind and Solar alone cannot replace fossil fuel power generation, the complementary characteristics of tidal energy will be crucial for a successful transition.

Virtual Gateway to the Netherlands showcases OTP in VR

Tocardo OTP project is also present at the Virtual Gateway to the Netherlands. The Virtual gateway enables foreign business and governments to experience Dutch solutions and products without traveling but still connects with everyone involved. Get your VR cardboard ready and watch the video here!

Tocardo OTP

Dutch Parliament and the VR experience

A Parliamentary debate was held on 10 June, in which the letter to Parliament regarding Electricity from Water was also on the agenda. Prior to the debate, DMEC handed over a photobook to gain attention for the sector and some of the present parliamentarians viewed the VR experience. During July the outcome of the debate will become public. In the Dutch province of Zeeland, tidal energy can contribute approximately 9% (1 PJ) per annum to the total production of renewable energy (11 PJ).

OTP

Join our development team

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Join our development team

Join our development team! At Tocardo we are looking for people who lead the way, because we cannot keep talking about the sustainable future; we prefer to turn our vision into reality. If you want to be part of the successful transition towards a renewable energy system join our team! Currently we have got two open positions in our development team based in Wieringerwerf, the Netherlands.

Chief Technical Officer
As a Chief Technical Officer, you manage the engineering team and support the integration of our turbine technology with the foundation solutions and the grid, where you are responsible for overseeing the whole chain.

Electrical Engineer
As an Electrical Engineer you will become a member of our technology development team working on our cutting-edge tidal turbine technology, being responsible for overseeing and development of the electrical design, SCADA system, PLC’s and testing components including several related sub-systems.

We are looking for people who lead the way. Our workshop and office are situated nearby Medemblik, in a region where traffic jams are infrequent.

ICEO 2021

Energizing a Powerful Blue Economy – ICOE 2021 presentation

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International Conference on Ocean Energy (ICOE) 2021

Tocardo is delighted to share the results of a two years multidisciplinary investigations of environmental effects of Tocardo’s tidal power plant in the Eastern Scheldt at ICOE 2021. The ocean energy industry will come together April 28-30, 2021 during the all-virtual ICOE 2021 conference to discuss device innovation, market developments and regulatory affairs to support the commercialization of the sector. This major event is hosted by the National Hydropower Association (NHA), and is supported by the International Energy Agency (IEA) through Ocean Energy Systems (OES).

Multidisciplinary Investigations of environmental effects of the Tocardo’s 1.25 MW tidal power plant

The Oosterschelde storm surge barrier is a dam that contains 62 gates that can be closed during storm surges. In 2015, Tocardo Tidal Power installed a 1.2MW tidal power plant in one of the gates comprising an array of 5 turbines. The presentation at ICOE discusses the methods and results of a unique two-year monitoring program to assess impacts on both the biotic and abiotic ecosystem as well as effects on the reliability of the storm surge barrier itself. The collaborative research project was lead by MET-support on behalf of Tocardo and undertaken by four renowned Dutch research institutes: Wageningen Marine Research, Deltares, Technical University of Delft and University of Utrecht. The Zeeuwse Milieu Federation (ZMF) facilitated regional stakeholder meetings.

In the download section below you can find the following publications and reports in relation to this project:

About the OP-Zuid program

The collaborative research project was supported by the European Regional Development Fund through the OP-Zuid program 2014–2020 and with financial support from province of Zeeland. Research by TU-Delft was also supported by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research within the research program The New Delta with project number 869.15.008

SubhubQED Naval

Contract award – Supply of Tidal Turbines and Service Contract to QED Naval Ltd

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Contract award

We are proud to announce that Tocardo has been awarded the contract to supply three tidal turbines to QED Naval for their Subhub platform. The renowned Tocardo T-1 turbines have been selected by QED Naval to be combined with their innovative, self-deploying, submersible foundation system. For the whole organisation this means a major step forward, after the restart at the beginning of 2020, the growth path to further roll-out of the technology in the offshore market has now been definitively opened.

The Tocardo T-1 turbine

The T-1 is Tocardo’s most proven turbine. In 2015 Tocardo installed three T-1 turbines in the Afsluitdijk tidal barrage, a 32 km long primary sea defence, next to the existing Den Oever project installation, which has a single T-1 installed in 2008. All electricity produced was fed into the grid. The turbines provided vital data and experience in turbine arrays. The array had a capacity of more than 300 kW, producing electricity for approximately one hundred local households. In 2019 both sites were decommissioned as a result of the multi-year project to raise the Afsluitdijk in connection with the expected sea level rise. By generating energy in a predictable and cost-effective way the T-1 is the best tidal turbine in its market segment with power outputs ranging from 50 to 125 kW.

Trials with the Subhub

As part of Interreg’s EU TIGER project, QED Naval are developing a site in the Solent in collaboration with Yarmouth Harbour Commission. The site is located between Sconce Point and Black Rock and will be used as a development site. QED Naval has submitted a planning application to the Marine Management Organisation to carry out performance and yield validation trials on the Subhub with the Tocardo T-1 tidal turbines. QED Naval will then go on to develop its 1 MW unit with Tocardo turbines.

About the Tiger project

The EU funded TIGER project will demonstrate that tidal energy is a maturing industry, capable of achieving an accelerated cost reduction pathway. The project will build cross-border partnerships to develop new technologies, test and demonstrate up to 8 MW of new tidal capacity at a number of locations around the Channel region, and use the learning from this development to make a stronger, cost-effective case for tidal energy as part of the France/UK energy mix.

Oosterschelde Tidal Powerplant resumed full continuous operations again

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After the announcement of the acquisition of the Tocardo OTP project in October 2020, we have worked hard to complete the commissioning- and testing phase of this unique project. On Monday 1st February the Oosterschelde Tidal Powerplant, made up of a platform of 5 x T-2, 250kW Tocardo tidal turbines, resumed full continuous operations again. This impressive and iconic Netherlands infrastructure project clearly demonstrates the global potential of energy from water in harmony with the environment.

Macquarie Group, GIG, recently showcased the OTP dam project and its global potential at the Climate Adaption Summit 2021. To see this hard work and project get such recognition makes us all very proud. This Dutch ‘Energy from Water’ initiative is a great example for the future. It showcases an energy solution that integrates nature and has an ability to simply scale up. There are some 400 global tidal deltas at risk of flooding that could benefit from such infrastructure and climate adaptation solutions.

For our clients we apply the learnings that we gain – tide after tide – from our showcase project at the Dutch icon the Eastern Scheldt storm barrier. We have seen the impact our technology and commitment has, and we believe that – working in partnership with QED Naval & HydroWing – we can and will change the world for the better.

e-pitch event 21-01-2021

Electrification in a Decarbonised World – e-pitch event

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E-pitch event

January 21st Tocardo was one of the invitees to pitch the company at the Solar Impulse Foundation e-pitch event on Electrification in a Decarbonised World, organized by the Solar Impulse Foundation in partnership with Schneider Electric. The event was watched by a large group of representatives from the business community and financiers. The organisation reported a traction on this session of 90 unique attendees.

How tidal power generation contributes to the electrification in a decarbonised world

Tidal energy is the answer for the increasing volatility in our energy system. Solar and wind power are the drivers for the current unpredictable energy system. On the other hand the extreme predictability of the tides results in an endless source of predictable renewable power generation. The driver for tidal stream power generation is combatting climate change by reducing the CO2 emissions with a 100% renewable, 100% reliable and 100% predictable energy source. Because of the geographical limitations and specific local characteristics for successful tidal power (micro)plants the highest value can be generated on specific locations for specific type of customers. Tidal stream power is the missing renewable energy source to create a local balanced power generation mix.

About the Solar Impulse Foundation

In July 2020 Tocardo’s turbine technology has received the Solar Impulse Label. The Solar Impulse Foundation aims to help the cleantech innovators behind the efficient solutions in order to accelerate their companies’ success. Once their solutions are labelled, the Foundation provides them support on six specific levels. That is, by giving them better access to the market, more appeal to investors, support in their advocacy work, feedback from industry experts, more credibility and greater visibility.

For investors

For investors who did not attend the event and who are also interested in our pitch and value proposition please contact us directly.

An exciting opportunity for investors!

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An exciting opportunity for investors!

Now is your chance to get involved: our Edinburgh-based business partner QED Naval has launched its first crowdfunding campaign on the Seedrs platform. The funding will assist further develop existing sites and to secure potential new locations for its patented Subhub tidal platform. The company (QED) also secured an award of €3.5m of EU funding and a place on Interreg’s €46m Tidal Stream Industry Energiser Project (TIGER) last year. Your green impact investment in renewable tidal energy with QED will help further demonstrate our key efficiencies, as outlined above, to the $76bn global market which we are addressing.

Subhub

One of the key design drivers for Subhub was to minimise the environmental impact of the platform. The best way to do that is to make it a seabed mounted system so it is invisible from the surface and maintains the seascape and navigation channels of shipping. It is beyond the diving depth of most birds. Advantageously, it means the extremes of wave loading are exponentially less than at the surface. Subhub is a submersible, gravity based foundation that supports an array of tidal turbines through life. It’s hydrodynamic hull form steers and accelerates the flow into the turbines to significantly enhancing the energy yield having a dramatic impact on the Levelised Cost Of Energy (LCOE) of the overall project.

The added value of tidal power

QED Naval managing director Jeremy Smith said: “Tidal energy is not only renewable, it is the only one that is 100% predictable, can guarantee power output every day of the year, and globally will be worth $76bn by 2050. “So, when the wind is not blowing and the sun is not out, tidal can quite simply fill the gaps in our grid requirement and prevent us having to switch to diesel, gas or coal power.

Get involved

This is a unique opportunity for QED Naval to supercharge their growth, by bringing investors on board as shareholders. This fundraising round will allow them to get going on all the incredible initiatives they have planned for the future. Get involved!

Impact Fest 2020

Marine Energy: The Next Big Thing in Energy (webinar)

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Webinar hosted by DMEC

As part of the OEEC 2020, the webinar ‘The Next Big Thing’ will take place on Wednesday 28 October 2020. During this webinar, DMEC, REDstack and Tocardo will tell you more about the potential of energy from water in the Netherlands. Furthermore we will showcase projects and highlight our ambitions for the future. Of course there is also the possibility for the participants to ask questions!

About ImpactFest

ImpactFest is Europe’s biggest online impact meetup. ImpactCity continues its mission of ‘doing good & doing business’ to drive innovations for a better world with the 5th edition of ImpactFest. Together we take on the challenges the world is facing. Utilizing online possibilities, impact makers from around the world will connect. From sharing lessons learned and investors meeting innovators to master classes, ImpactFest provides impact makers with the opportunity to take new steps in their mission and accelerate innovation.

Wanna join this session?

The ImpactFest consists of different online elements, all focused on connecting in order to drive knowledge and experience sharing, deal-making and inspiration. You can order your ticket here. After you’ve ordered your ticket and signed in, you’ll be able to select your own program elements spread out over the different days.