Site: Derby Tidal Power Station
Capital cost of tidal power stations varies between $1- 3 million per MW of installed generation capacity, dependent on site requirements, design and electricity demand.
Staffing Required:
Tidal and run of river power stations are designed for fully automatic operation with minimal operation and maintenance personnel. Up to 6 personnel on larger sites may be required.
Training:
No special training requirements for tidal power station operational personnel exist other than that adopted by the electricity generation industry.
Expertise:
Special expertise is required at the development phase of any tidal or run of river power station. TEA may by agreement transfer such expertise to third party organizations.
This power station is scheduled to start producing May.
Tidal Energy Australia developed a unique double-basin tidal power station design generating constantly with Zero emissions – a world first and over 450 kilometers of transmission lines.
Its unique design features include barrage and sluice gate engineering and possible use of a novel turbine generator configuration.
The double basin design allows up to 48 MW of continuous electricity generation from the tides per hour. The turbine - generator technology may provide substantial capital and civil costs reductions being physically smaller and more readily available than conventional turbines. Converter technology use assures that variable water flows can be harnessed, producing uniform power output whilst computer models
match power production-demand up to 2020.
TEA is keen to further develop its turbine-generator technology which is applicable to other low head hydro schemes such as 'run of the river' applications. The units are relatively compact by comparison to conventional turbines, capital costs are likely to be reduced and require only simplified civil structures.
Thus technology transfer to other low head hydro electric opportunities is straight forward, whilst the potential for capital savings may turn marginally viable projects into viable commercial ventures.
The Tidal power station in France generates 240 MW of power, (almost the same as our High Desert Power Plant) while using no fuel and destroying nothing and costing very little to operate.
My point is this:
California's efforts at solving the problem are a sham. This whole
thing is about money involving the state, deregulated power supplier and fuel suppliers -- result the public health and welfare is at risk. What is
required is a solution for the future. I think Tidal power stations are the answer for California with its hundreds of miles of coastline.