An MCT style machine is not suitable for Cuan, but a wholly submerged design - particularly of the shrouded turbine type rather than the 'underwater windmill' design - would be.
Something llike this from Open Hydro, curently testing at EMEC.
MCT stands for Marine Current Turbines Ltd.
EMEC stands for The European Marine Energy Centre, which is a UKAS accredited test and research centre focusing on wave and tidal power development based in the Orkney Islands, UK.
OK - but for the benefit of lesser mortals who are not conversant with abbreviated initials for every current development and government body overseeing the same, could we have interpretations and a bit of plain speaking instead of the mumbo jumbo just to prove what a clever clogs we are.
Having now read the indicated source of information on tidal power suggested above, I am probably a bit wiser on the subject.
However I would respectfully suggest that probably the majority of readers and posters are not fully conversant with all current technical developments in this field and abbreviated initials will engender a bit of frustration. Yet they (and myself included) have an interest (layman's?) in the subject and welcome discussion that does not get into the realms of rocket science.
Minimum wrote:How do you know so much about it? This may be relevant to assess any potential bias.
Do you believe that everyone who posts on any topic should be made to declare their interest in the subject? It's not standard procedure on most forums, but we could have a Members' Register of Interests if you want. I am sure that our resident anons will fill it in scrupulously and accurately.
I've sent you a PM with details of my interest in the subject. Feel free to report back on any potential bias you discern.
Well, you have pretty much declared that you have answers to questions on tidal power. If we know why you think you know so much then perhpas we can judge your answers on your background and/or experience.
Thank you for your PM - your views are different to mine.
Minimum wrote:Well, you have pretty much declared that you have answers to questions on tidal power. If we know why you think you know so much then perhpas we can judge your answers on your background and/or experience.
Thank you for your PM - your views are different to mine.
Minimum, who is the royal 'we' you refer to? You are the only person who has demanded I justify myself . . .
I was responding to Jimcee's complaint that my posts did not simplify the subject sufficiently or assumed a level of knowledge that not all posters have. I merely offered to try to be more helpful. I know a bit about tidal power because it is an interest of mine.
You are welcome to take or leave my opinions on tidal power or on any other subject, as you can with all posters and posts on here. Only you can decide what subjective value you put on it.
It is interesting to note the attendees at this meeting held on 7th April. Whilst Luing had two represenatives from the Luing CC working group and three attendees from the Luing Community Trust there were no represenatives from the SECC. The SECC have a duty to both the communities of Seil and Easdale to attend meetings such as this in order to look after the interests of the communities that they represent.
Having read through the summary of the meeting mentioned above (still not got the hang of this quote business) - the following observations -
The number attending the meeting was not clearly defined but appeared to consist of EE directors (unnumbered) plus 14 +4 (18) representatives from Easdale - 5 from Luing and 4 from Seil.
This is in an inverse proportion of the populations of the respective islands.
Now I do not know where the initiative came from, to get this whole shebang on to the public domain but to an interested outside observer, this would suggest that this is another EE initiative to get public funding for another of their (dubious) schemes and the large turnout from there either suggests local opposition or whipping up supporting numbers.
Also - the proposed siting of this turbine is in Cuan Sound which lies between Seil and Luing (if my current atlas is accurate) and as such should be of far more concern to these two islands than to Easdale.
Again, as it stands currently, the expense involved (although, not surprisingly, not quantified) would seem to be not worth the candle for an electric fire or three on each side of the sound.
Speaking here as an interested but ignorant bystander, while not averse to new developments, I would suggest that it might be as well to see how this company fare in Shetland, before leaping on to their bandwaggon. There are surely other players in the field who could come up with the goods competitively - if that is the course that Seil and Luing wish to follow - Easdale are renowned for doing their own thing, regardless.
There has been a summary (PDF file) of Saturday's meeting posted on the Easdale People siteHERE
What does the turbine look like? Would it be visible?
Nova response: Nova allow at least 15m clearance to the water surface, but tend to put
them deeper. The North Yell turbine is a 3-bladed horizontal axis machine, but this might not
be suitable here.
Would there be sufficient depth in Cuan Sound to provide 15m clearance above an unknown height turbine?
Jim - I think you speak for the many however I would like to suggest one correction: Eilean Eisdeal directors are renowned for doing their own thing, not the islanders.
Reading between the lines it seems that Eilean Eisdeal directors were hoping to set themselves up to be in a similar situation to the Yell project. In other words:
“They [Yell] delegate people to make a decision, inform the community about it, and people generally go along with it.”
However, this isn’t possible for Eilean Eisdeal as it is not a group that represents the community for several reasons:
1. Two thirds of Eilean Eisdeal membership is made up of people who don’t live on the island.
2. The directors seem not understand the term ‘consultation’. Their difficulties are exposed by the OSCR recommendations resulting from the investigation into the directors’ behaviour.
3. The directors appear not understand how to communicate. They have a history of refusing to provide information such as that requested by For Argyll and island residents, all of which is of interest to the local and the wider communities.
Outstanding issues include evidence of the make-up of the membership and questions concerning the Green Streets finding.
Personally, I think they are the last group that should be involved.
Eilean Eisdeal are certainly not the appropriate people to proceed with the investigation, they have no technical expertise and do not represent the Easdale Isdland community, the islanders have absolutely no faith in Eilean Eisdeal whatsoever.
It is a pity that Community Energy Scotland were unable to attend the Nova sales pitch on Saturday. Community Energy Scotland should get together with the Luing Community Council and the Seil and Easdale Community Council to plan the route ahead for the three communities. That is provided there is a suitable low risk route for such an embryonic and unproven technology. Notwithstanding the fact that the Nova device might not be the most appropriate technology to consider.
Yes, I agree with Minimum too. If Eilean Eisdeal directors hear the words "grant" and "funding" their eyes light up and the pound signs start rotating in their eyes - no matter what the money's being offered for. What on earth has it got to do with the Rockers anyway?
I also agree with Jim's point:
jimcee wrote:it might be as well to see how this company fare in Shetland, before leaping on to their bandwaggon.
They haven't even got a device in the water yet, let alone proved that it works.
I see that a bit's been added to the summary on Easdale People, which seems to answer some of Jim's points about the attendees and where the idea came from in the first place. See http://www.easdalepeople.org.uk/wp-cont ... ation1.pdf
