Scotland tests unique green project

An attempt to build the world’s first underwater sea turbines would help the climate.

Scotish landscape

A revolutionary idea is stirring among the peaceful islands off the west coast of Scotland. It is a plan to produce green, renewable energy by harnessing the power at the bottom of the sea.
  
The Sound of Islay is a strait eight kilometres long and a kilometre wide. As I crossed it on the car ferry to Jura, I was almost directly above the spot, sixty metres below on the sea bed, where engineers will place ten giant turbines driven by the tide.

It runs at a phenomenal three metres a second here. If they get it right, this will be the first project of its kind in the world.
 
Blades 10 metres long would turn at 10 times a minute at peak flow –  a bit like an underwater wind farm.

Each turbine would produce one mega watt of power, together it is enough to provide electricity for Islay’s 3,500 people.

Green dream
 
Scotland has 25 per cent of all the tidal energy potential in Europe – along with wind and wave power, some dream of a country that will one day use only green energy.

One of them is Andrew Macdonald, from the Islay Energy Trust. He says Scotland is blessed with untapped natural energy.

If they can show that the Islay project is a success then there are bigger ones to come. For instance, further north in the Pentland Firth the tides – and wind – are even stronger.
 
The Islay project will cost more than 80m dollars and has yet to prove cost effective. 

The engineers will have to tread carefully. Fisherman are worried about their gear becoming snarled in the turbines and the impact on wildlife including dolphins, whales and diving birds.

Fisherman Dougal Ferguson told me that he was 60 per cent for the project and 40 per cent against.

He and the rest of the small fishing fleet will have to be reassured and there are studies being carried out to assess the environmental impact.

Intoxicating future

Engineers are confident that fish and seals will be able to avoid the slowly turning giant blades, but submerged debris floating down the sound could be a problem.

The Scottish Parliament will have the final say on planning permission. It is keen on exploiting Scotland’s natural power, and the energy company Scottish Power hopes the Islay project will encourage others to join the green revolution.

Alan Mortimer, head of renewables, believes the Islay project can serve as an international demonstration. As well as the environmental benefits, it would also provide work locally and help develop green skills.

The turbines could be operational in 2011, contributing to Scotland’s target of generating up to 2GW (2,000MW) of electricity from tidal and wave power by 2020.
 
Islay’s world famous whisky makers are already on board. They need guaranteed electricity to power their distilleries – the Caol Ila Distillery alone produces 81,000 litres a week.

Billy Stitchell is the fourth generation of his family to work in the business and he says the company is keen to reduce its carbon footprint. The giant turbines in the sound, which runs past the distillery windows, would help them to achieve that. 

The tidal power created by the pull of the moon and the sun on the sea has always existed.

It may be expensive to capture, but many believe if the opportunity isn’t taken now, the eventual cost to the earth could be much higher. 

Source: Al Jazeera