Published: 17 December 2012
First tropical tidal research centre to be based in Darwin
Tenax Energy and Charles Darwin University (CDU) have signed a memorandum of understanding to create the world's first tropical tidal energy research centre in Darwin.
A beach near Darwin at low tide: the city could become a regional hub for tropical tidal energy research. Credit: Ken Hodge/flickr under Creative Commons CC BY 2.0 licence
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The first step will be the establishment of a testing facility (Tropical Tidal Testing Centre or T3C) to stimulate collaboration in tropical tidal energy generation globally across research institutions and device manufacturers.
‘The world's biggest test site, the European Marine Energy Centre in Scotland, is already at capacity and we see significant opportunity in taking what we learn about the tropical environment here in Darwin to support growth in the sector in Asia,’ said Tenax Energy Managing Director, Alan Major.
‘We are excited to have received expressions of interest from a number of Australian and international equipment manufacturers, because the tidal energy sector is viewed as the next big thing.’
Professor Andrew Campbell, CDU's Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods Director, said the MOU would pioneer research into the interaction of these technologies within a tropical environment.
‘It will also attract a range of professional and trade qualifications in marine, electrical and structural engineering disciplines across the renewable energy spectrum, in addition to other associated research opportunities in environmental science and economics,’ he said.
The Clarence Strait Tidal Energy Project has the potential to redefine Darwin's relationship with Asia.
In terms of the Australian Government’s recently released White Paper, Australia in the Asian Century, leveraging this resource will contribute significantly to the acceleration ‘of Darwin's evolution as a sophisticated, liveable city built around a gateway to Asia, and a regional hub’ in tropical tidal energy.
Source: CDU