The Dutch authorities have decided to develop tidal energy. The plan is to provide environmentally friendly energy to the island of Ameland at the expense of underwater power plants. But biologists worry about the consequences for the marine ecosystem.
The authorities allocated multi-million funds to the companies Equinox and SeaQurrent for the implementation of the project to generate electricity at the expense of sea currents, tides and waves.
Until now, the production of environmentally friendly electricity in the country was carried out mainly with the help of solar panels and wind turbines.
Erwin de Boer, energy consultant of the municipality of Ameland:
“The Sea Serpent will generate electricity for approximately 600 homes. Hollum and Ness are the largest settlements on the island. And, hopefully, there will be more of them in the future.”
Equinox has developed a turbine similar to an underwater wind turbine. And Seaqurrent came up with sea snakes (following the example of aerial ones). They float underwater along a figure-of-eight trajectory and are connected by cables to generators on the bottom.
Tidal power plants have huge potential, but biologists warn: it could harm the marine ecosystem.