Titanic’s Shipyard Builds Record Tidal Generator
In an endeavour hopefully better fated than that of the “unsinkable ship”, the Harland & Wolff shipyard of Belfast are now building the world’s biggest tidal electricity generation system.
Named SeaGen, the 1.2 megawatt installation will generate power for over 1,000 homes using energy harvested from tides in Strangford Lough, east of Belfast.
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Northern Ireland has considerable natural resources and although wind power has been Ireland’s primary source of renewable energy to date, tidal power generates more energy per acre than wind power - a form of energy that many object to on grounds of its space requirements. In addition, tidal installations have the crucial advantage that tides are constantly moving, allowing power to be generated constantly, whereas wind energy is subject to frequent troughs and peaks with shifting weather patterns.
Cementing its commitment to renewable energy, Ireland’s state-owned electricity supplier ESB has announced an investment of almost 11 billion euros ($17.4 billion) in renewable sources including tidal and wave technology to cut its emissions of carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming.
As an aside: The Titanic, launched in 1912, sank after hitting an iceberg. This episode was partially blamed on excessive pressure to make a fast Atlantic crossing being placed on the Titanic’s captain by the ship’s owners. In some ways, this event is reminiscent of today’s pressure for economic growth in the face of mounting environmental uncertainties. Let’s hope for better luck this time around.
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