5 ms·

Here's a description of an earlier attempt, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/inside-worlds-first-large-scale-effort-to-harness-tidal-energy-180960632/

Here's a description of an earlier attempt, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/inside-worlds-first-large-scale-effort-to-harness-tidal-energy-180960632/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/inside-worlds-firs... All the press releases and articles describing work in the Pentland Firth are breathlessly optimistic. The environment here is fantastically unkind to marine equipment and at least one previous project (can't recall or find the details) was destroyed in a very short time. To give you an idea, the current at Duncansby Head at the opposite end of the channel reaches 10 knots. This stretch of coast is great to visit, especially on a clear day in winter. As it starts to get dark, you can watch about 8 lighthouses on the neighbouring islands switch on and flash their beams across the cold, dark waters. https://www.nlb.org.uk/lighthouses/duncansby-head/ https://www.nlb.org.uk/lighthouses/duncansby-head/ Disclaimer: Grew up in Wick, 20km to the south.

SEJeff 7y ago
What are your thoughts on the project as someone familiar with the area? Good, bad, mixed? As an outsider, it seems that Scotland is leading the world in offshore wind, which is someone Scottish Engineers could export to many other places. I see it as exciting.
- smackay 7y ago
  It's a resource that's hard to ignore. There are good electricity grid connections nearby because of the, now decommissioned, fast-breeder reactor at Dounreay. It's a hellishly difficult place to work but that's kind of the point - if the technology can be made to work here then it will work anywhere. There's a long history of marine engineering in the country. There's a lot of good expertise here and the Scottish government sees renewables and the associated technology to be a good export opportunity for the country. It would be great if the country to take the experience gained in the oil industry and use it in more environmentally friendly ways (if you ignore all the fish that the tidal turbines will be turning into an all you can eat sushi buffet for the local gulls).
  - teh_klev 7y ago
    > here are good electricity grid connections nearby because of the, now decommissioned, fast-breeder reactor at Dounreay That and the recent 400kV upgrade of the Beauly to Denny high voltage transmission line to provide additional capacity for renewable energy sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_policy_of_Scotland#Beauly-Denny_power_line https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_policy_of_Scotland#Beau...
pjc50 7y ago
Inherently a problem - it's a great area for tidal energy because there's so much energy in the water flow. Unfortunately that same energy is very good at smashing things. Tidal and wave energy has really suffered from intermittent funding problems, such as the bankruptcy of Pelamis (Edinburgh and Orkney)
teh_klev 7y ago
I got the ferry from Stromness to Scrabster once. A low pressure arrived on the scene just as we departed Stromness. About a quarter of a way into the journey I decided I'd like a coffee, I wished I hadn't. I swear at one point, as we rolled over the crest of one wave, I experienced weightlessness, as did the contents of my disposable cup. It must be one of the very few times on public transport I've had to "clambour" back to my seat. I remained seated for the rest of the trip.

SEJeff 7y ago

What are your thoughts on the project as someone familiar with the area? Good, bad, mixed? As an outsider, it seems that Scotland is leading the world in offshore wind, which is someone Scottish Engineers could export to many other places. I see it as exciting.

smackay 7y ago
It's a resource that's hard to ignore. There are good electricity grid connections nearby because of the, now decommissioned, fast-breeder reactor at Dounreay. It's a hellishly difficult place to work but that's kind of the point - if the technology can be made to work here then it will work anywhere. There's a long history of marine engineering in the country. There's a lot of good expertise here and the Scottish government sees renewables and the associated technology to be a good export opportunity for the country. It would be great if the country to take the experience gained in the oil industry and use it in more environmentally friendly ways (if you ignore all the fish that the tidal turbines will be turning into an all you can eat sushi buffet for the local gulls).
- teh_klev 7y ago
  > here are good electricity grid connections nearby because of the, now decommissioned, fast-breeder reactor at Dounreay That and the recent 400kV upgrade of the Beauly to Denny high voltage transmission line to provide additional capacity for renewable energy sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_policy_of_Scotland#Beauly-Denny_power_line https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_policy_of_Scotland#Beau...

pjc50 7y ago

Inherently a problem - it's a great area for tidal energy because there's so much energy in the water flow. Unfortunately that same energy is very good at smashing things. Tidal and wave energy has really suffered from intermittent funding problems, such as the bankruptcy of Pelamis (Edinburgh and Orkney)

teh_klev 7y ago

I got the ferry from Stromness to Scrabster once. A low pressure arrived on the scene just as we departed Stromness. About a quarter of a way into the journey I decided I'd like a coffee, I wished I hadn't. I swear at one point, as we rolled over the crest of one wave, I experienced weightlessness, as did the contents of my disposable cup. It must be one of the very few times on public transport I've had to "clambour" back to my seat. I remained seated for the rest of the trip.