1.2-megawatt underwater turbine project delayed

Apparently, Marine Current Turbines is having quite the time trying to install what would be "the world's largest tidal power project," as the installation that was slated to begin Monday will now be lucky to see completion this year. Dubbed SeaGen, the project will reportedly utilize "twin underwater turbines to generate 1.2-megawatts of electricity off the coast of Northern Ireland," which are said to "look and work very much like wind powered [alternatives]." Notably, the company even mentioned that the devices spin "too slowly to affect marine life," and just in case you're concerned about its future plans, it "intends to eventually build farms of turbines consisting of 10 to 20 pairs each."

[Via TechMeme]

[Randy @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:45PM]

Still a long way to go to get to 1.21 gigawatts.

[required @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:07PM]

Not really, the ocean is very big and powerful and from most locations on earth not that far away.

[Alan @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:11PM]

I was thinking the same thing...until such time we should continue to use Mr Juicey.

[shamowfski @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:25PM]

You mean Mr. Fusion?

[JuggleNuts @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:23PM]

Marty: What the hell is a jigawatt!?

[x20mar @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:50PM]

Do you realise that there is a difference in Ireland and Northern Ireland, as Northern Ireland is actually part of the UK?

Geography anyone?

[Mike @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:29PM]

Ummm, what? No one confused the two and besides...even if they did no one cares...

[ray @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:56PM]

Umm, the article mentions nothing about Northern Ireland NOT being part of the UK so what are you pissed about?

[Scott Neary @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:55PM]

too much Guinness mate

[pauly @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:58PM]

I read about this company a while back. The underwater propellers can be lifted up out of the water at the touch of a button, like an elevator. That way they can be serviced by someone in a boat as opposed to being serviced underwater by a diver. Makes the project less costly. I hope they get it working!

[Matt @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:11PM]

It's been a bad summer for Irish free/nearly free energy projects.

[jonny @ Aug 23rd 2007 2:59PM]

I thought this project had started already,its about 10 miles away from me,cool.

[Nikoooo @ Aug 23rd 2007 3:40PM]

It couldn't be made on Monday because of a broken/used for other reason barge. I guess these boats must be rather large!

[spam_from_engadget @ Aug 23rd 2007 5:07PM]

Apparently the special barge got stuck on a sandbank which wasn't where they expected it to be...

[liqwid @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:23PM]

1.2 Megawatts is a long ways away from 1.21 Jiggawatts. Looks like we need Dr. Brown to help us out here.

[jgs @ Aug 23rd 2007 4:37PM]

What is the life expectancy of this once built - sitting in salt water and all??

[grunt @ Aug 23rd 2007 11:39PM]

The unfortunate thing not mentioned in the article is that this tech isn't suitable for everywhere on the coast. Strangford Lough has unusually strong tidal surges which make this worthwhile, they really need to start building wind farms, its a much easier project and more scale-able.

They were going to build an offshore windfarm off the causeway coast (northern edge of N. Ireland) but people complained it would be an eyesore *rolls eyes* (hand one.. we have beautiful sweeping blades... hand two... disgusting waste from coal.. lignite.. or nuclear power)

[Twitchy @ Aug 23rd 2007 5:21PM]

Would make for good fishing around there, what with all the chunder being made. It would get rather interesting when a large school of fish were to roam into a farm of these.

[Dan @ Aug 23rd 2007 7:10PM]

I don't like this one bit. This is how the Seaquest was destroyed.

[Akiosarin @ Aug 24th 2007 12:00AM]

At least we'll have cool dolphins, that could probably kill you... an use these turbines to make attack helicopters to enslave us, an spank us....(what I like to call flipage...bondage + flipper =......exactly *insert msn emoticon here*)

=D

[silivrenion @ Nov 17th 2007 7:35AM]

Just wait till all those poor dolphins up and leave the Earth, thanking us for all the fish...

[David85 @ Aug 24th 2007 7:28AM]

hey guys, I live in Northern Ireland and havn't heard about this what part of the coast is it happening off?

[Bobs @ Aug 27th 2007 1:04AM]

the idea of giant spinning blades under water scare the hell outta me, i like swimming, but i wouldnt touch the water near that thing, i like clean water, not pipes, and definatly spinning blades of death