Via EUREC Members, ORE Catapult

Nova Innovation’s new M100-D tidal energy turbine will be installed in the Shetland Tidal Array, the site of EnFAIT (Enabling Future Arrays in Tidal), a €20 million collaborative research project funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Programme. The turbine will be the first of three turbines added to the site to double the capacity of the world’s first subsea tidal array. The new design lowers costs and will play a key role in making tidal energy mainstream.

Technology advances in the M100-D are drawn both from the EnFAIT project’s research and innovation activities, as well as sister H2020 project D2T2 (Direct Drive Tidal Turbine). Highlights include the removal of the need for a gearbox, which has delivered a 30% cost reduction. Fewer moving parts in the turbine improve reliability and extend the period between services from one year to two years.

Watch this space for the latest news from the EnFAIT project: www.enfait.eu