Development of marine current turbines for electricity production

The recent and growing interest around the world in the utilisation of marine currents or tidal stream for the generating of electrical power, without the need for barrages and the impounding of water, is heralding a new era in renewable energy. Globally, marine currents are now being recognised as a resource to be exploited for the delivery of electrical power. The tides which drive such currents are highly predictable, being a consequence of the gravitational effects of the planetary motion of the earth, the moon and the sun. Although the energy in marine currents is generally diffuse, it is concentrated at a number of sites where sea flows are channelled through constraining topographies such as islands and straits. Harnessing such a resource can be achieved through utilising kinetic energy converters in a similar fashion as wind energy conversion. In addition the resource offers distinct advantages over other renewable energy sources due to its regular and predictable nature. The presented work discusses this potential and conveys the current status of marine current energy conversion. It also highlights research and development issues, reports on support mechanisms and technology development and deployment with special emphasis on the United Kingdom, currently the world leader in this field.