Tidal Power.

[mark1979]

Harland and Wolff - Prototype tidal turbine under construction in Belfast

maybe it was 2010.

 

[moggy1968]

500 homes, thats pants!! The cost/benefit must be somewhat disproportionate!

 

[deeyup]

Spoke to a friend who works for environment agency yesterday who said the bristol channel project is back on.

 

[Guest123]

500 homes, thats pants!! The cost/benefit must be somewhat disproportionate!

One turbine can power 500 homes.

The whole turbine array can power 5000.

 

[moggy1968]

so one small town then, how much do they cost?

 

[Guest123]

so one small town then, how much do they cost?

The whole array will cost around £40Million!!!

Works out to £8000 per home.

 

[moggy1968]

hmmn, so actually reasonable cost effective compared to PV. what about the ongoing maintaininace costs, bearing in mind small scale PV is basically maintainance free?

 

[netblindpaul]

moggy,
Maint costs are currently HUGE!
My old boss tried to persuade me to set up doing maint as there is so much to be done!

 

[Guest123]

The video shows the 'head' of the turbines being able to be lifted off onto a type of maintenance platform.

Cost & longevity wise, I have no idea, must be in the region of 20 years plus though surely.

 

[netblindpaul]

Lenny,
No where near that at the moment so I am told!

 

[Guest123]

Lenny,
No where near that at the moment so I am told!

All of a sudden they don't sound so cost effective.......

 

[moggy1968]

that has always been the achiles heel of mechanical systems, either wind or tidal. the great thing about PV is no moving parts, pretty much fit and forget (assuming it's fitted properly!!)