Cost of tidal energy cut with Cranfield innovation 11 February 2014

A project involving Cranfield University and Sustainable Marine Energy, funded by the Low Carbon KEEP programme, has developed an innovative deployment platform claimed to dramatically cut the cost and risks with tidal energy projects.

Sustainable Marine Energy and a team of academics headed by Dr Florent Trarieux, lecturer in offshore engineering at Cranfield University, recently completed a 12-month project developing the platform, dubbed PLAT-O.

"Low Carbon KEEP gave us the means to progress a great idea further to commercial stage for the benefit of Sustainable Marine Energy and the industry in a very short period of time," explains Dr Trarieux.

"Having a prototype deployed at sea in 18 months is mind-blowing... This is an excellent framework creating positive incentives for all the stakeholders to deliver work quickly and efficiently," he continues.

"In a new industry such as tidal energy, this could well have a definite impact on who will be the game changers."

"This programme has helped our organisation reach out across Cranfield University and tap into a wide range of expertise. The success of the PLAT-O project has enabled the company to secure additional funding to design, build and test an at-sea demonstrator," comments Jason Hayman, managing director of Sustainable Marine Energy.

Brian Tinham

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