Tocardo to Set Up 5-Turbine Array in Dutch Eastern Scheldt

Tocardo Tidal Turbines will install five tidal turbines in the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier, the company announced today. This will be both the largest tidal energy project in the Netherlands as well as the world’s largest commercial tidal installation of five turbines in an array.

The Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier is designed to protect the Netherlands from flooding from the North Sea. The location will now deliver the combination of water defences and hydroelectric power.

The fast-flowing water of the Eastern Scheldt estuary makes it the ideal location in the Netherlands for generating tidal energy, Tocardo said. The rhythmic ebb and flow of the estuary has very powerful water flows that will be used by Tocardo’s turbines for electricity generation.

The turbines will be operational this autumn and have a total capacity of 1.2 MW, which will supply electricity to 1,000 households.

“This project marks an important step in the development of tidal energy. Tidal technology is innovative and could grow into a significant Dutch export product. With our turbines in the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier, we can now show the world what tidal energy is all about, namely providing a clean and reliable source of energy that could fulfil 10-20% of the world’s electricity needs,” said Tocardo CEO Hans van Breugel.

For this project, Tocardo is working with co-shareholder Huisman, the designers of the turbines’ suspension structure. Strukton has also been actively involved in the project planning from the outset and will be responsible for project management during installation.

Another partner in the installation project is Mammoet, while Zeeland companies Istimewa Elektrotechniek, Van der Straaten and Hillebrand also play an important role in terms of the electro-technical installation and steel structures. Together with these partners, Tocardo has future plans to increase the number of turbines.

As manager of the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier, the Netherlands’ Department of Waterways and Public Works Rijkswaterstaat supports this innovative initiative to generate energy.

The province of Zeeland has provided a significant financial contribution to the project. The project has also received funding from the European Regional Development Fund, the Dutch government and the province of Zeeland as part of the Operational Programme for Zuid-Nederland (OP-Zuid).

Image: Tocardo