Hamburg, 20 April 2012 – Tidal energy is a vast resource man has yet to harness. As technology advances into this new, promising realm of renewable energy, GL Renewables Certification (GL RC) is contributing its expertise by certifying Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ (KHI) tidal energy converter prototype.
The certification will be carried out according to GL RC’s “Guideline for the Certification of Ocean Energy Converters” and other relevant GL RC rules and guidelines for marine and offshore structures. KHI’s tidal energy converter is currently under development at KHI’s Akashi facility and will soon be installed at the European Marine Energy Test Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, Scotland/UK.
The prototype certification by GL Renewables Certification will include assessment of the prototype design which demonstrates the fulfilment of the requirements in relation to design, fabrication, installation and operation. The 1 MW tidal energy converter consists of a horizontal axis turbine mounted on the seabed by a gravity base and has an active pitch and yaw control system. The power take-off is a combination of gearbox and permanent magnet generator.
About GL Renewables Certification GL
Renewables Certification has issued guidelines which cover testing conditions, safety systems and quality requirements, for both onshore and offshore installations, in a variety of technical fields. For owners, manufacturers, operators, supplier firms, investors, banks and insurance companies alike certification is an important prerequisite for safe, reliable and highly productive facilities. GL Renewables Certification is pursuing an ambitious expansion strategy with focus on technical leadership, especially in the fields of offshore project certification and marine renewables. GL Renewables Certification has offices in Germany, the U.S., Canada, India and China, and employs 185 people worldwide. For further information, please visit http://www.gl-group.com/glrenewables.
About Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Kawasaki Heavy Industries is a supplier of renewable energy applications and products that include everything from small hydraulic power generation systems to biomass and more. Kawasaki is making new inroads into the international market via large-scale projects in Britain and elsewhere that hold promise of major growth, as well as commercial power generation projects in Japan. Kawasaki is leaving behind a smaller carbon footprint as it moves forward to make more efficient use of the earth’s limited resources with an eye to building a brighter future for everyone.
