March 29, 2024
Global Renewable News

TOCARDO
Tocardo test T2 turbine on new Catapult 1MW drive train test rig

March 20, 2017

Tocardo, a global leader in tidal energy solutions, has successfully tested their T2 turbine on the Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult's new 1MW drive train test facility.  

The Dutch tidal developer will use the test results to further improve the power output of the T2, validating and optimising the turbine design and giving Tocardo and their investors' confidence that the turbine is ready to be deployed and start generating electricity.

The new test rig - designed, built and commissioned by ORE Catapult - will be used for research and development, to validate the efficiency and reliability of new turbine designs and for upscaling developer prototypes to multi-megawatt scale.

The rig was developed in response to an industry need for sub-1MW turbine testing as part of Tidal EC, a European FP7 project on power take-off optimisation of tidal turbines. The rig provides a platform for companies to test sub-1MW wind and tidal turbine prototypes and their components in the UK, rather than sending them abroad, creating enormous opportunities and benefits for the UK supply chain.

Catapult engineers are involved in designing test programmes, reviewing technology designs and carrying out testing on the rig, enhancing the Catapult's already extensive capabilities and expertise in turbine drive train testing and complementing the 3MW and 15MW drive train test facilities at the innovation centre's Blyth site.

"It was a valuable experience for Tocardo to test our T2 turbine at the new test rig and it gave us a lot of information" said Hans van Breugel, Tocardo's Chief Operating Officer.

"The offshore experience and knowledge within the company resulted in the installation of 11 turbines over the past years. We focus on reliability and affordability, so our turbines fit' a broad variety of locations and deliver sustainable results. Our team consist of great professionals, each passionate about the product and our ambitions."

The next step for Tocardo will be to deploy the T2 at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney for further validation testing.

Tony Quinn, ORE Catapult's Operations Director, said: "The addition of the 1MW tidal turbine drive train test rig at Catapult Blyth further enhances our drive train testing capabilities, and reinforces ORE Catapult's position as the world's leading experts in wind and tidal turbine drive train testing." "The development of the new rig was in direct response to a clear market need for this type of testing, and will allow turbine developers to resolve technical issues prior to deployment, minimising the risk of early complications and unplanned maintenance."

For more information

Tocardo

www.tocardo.com/


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