What is Tidal Energy?
Tidal energy is electricity harnessed from the movement of tides, rivers and ocean currents using turbines.


How is Tidal Energy Generated?
Electricity is generated from the turning of blades of an underwater turbine. The process converts the kinetic energy of moving water directly to mechanical power and electricity, without affecting the natural flow of water.


What is Hydrokinetic Energy?
Hydrokinetic energy is tidal power extraction without the need for barrages or civil works. It includes all energy available from moving water such as tides, rivers and ocean currents.


Will 3rd Generation Turbines Interrupt the Tidal Flow?
No. 3rd Generation Turbines generate power from the kinetic (moving) energy of the tidal or river flow. The energy is extracted as the water moves past the turbine and there is no interruption to the natural flow.


Is a Barrage or Other Civil Works Required on the Coastline?
No. A barrage works by trapping the incoming tide and then releasing it through a turbine to generate electricity. The largest example of a barrage is the 200MW installation at La Rance in France.
No barrage or civil works are required for the SeaUrchin. Our turbines will be secured to the seafloor using a mooring arrangement similar to that used to moor ships. They will be below the water line and not visible from the land.


What is Cp and How Does EET Calculate its Cp?
Cp is the Coefficient of Power that is a measure how effectively the kinetic energy of the moving water is converted to mechanical energy to drive an electrical generator.
By industry standards the Cp is referenced to the rotor diameter. EET uses this method to specify Cp for all turbine types.



What is the Betz Limit?
The Betz Limit is the theoretical maximum Cp that can be achieved by a turbine. The limit is 59.3% and is similar to the maximum possible efficiency.
Because the Cp of the SeaUrchin turbine is shrouded and referenced to the rotor size as per industry standards, the Cp can be greater than the Betz limit.


Is the SeaUrchin Design Scalable?
Yes. The SeaUrchin design is scalable from 300W to 1MW. The same design principals are used in all sizes of the SeaUrchin range.


Does the SeaUrchin Use Environmentally Friendly Materials?
Yes. Standard, proven boat building materials are used that are cost effective, globally accessible and easy to repair if required.


How much Electricity Does a SeaUrchin Turbine produce?
Each large SeaUrchin turbine can produce energy to power up to 1,000 homes.


What are the Principal Benefits of Tidal Energy?
Tidal energy can reduce our reliance on coal, oil and natural gas by harnessing the natural tidal water movement since it is reliable and predictable.  Tidal energy turbines are inaudible and visually unobtrusive due to their location far below the surface of the ocean.


How Reliable is Tidal Energy?
Tides occur twice daily and are predictable many years in advance. This allows the power potential of water turbines to exceed that of wind energy.
A tidal energy turbine in a flow of 2 to 3 metres per second (m/s) in seawater can produce up to four times as much energy as a similarly rated wind turbine and do so for longer periods of time.


Is there Any Effect on Marine Life?
International research indicates that marine turbines have minimal impact on marine life. SeaUrchin has been designed to meet Australia’s environmental regulations.