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1. THE BEGINNING
This innovation came to life when…
I realised that the technology currently proposed to harness tidal energy is vulnerable to marine influences which I felt would ultimately mitigate against its use. Why not allow the sea access to underground cavities on land so that tidal movement could be translated into air motion as the cavities are filled with and exhausted of seawater? This way, air turbines of very high efficiency can be mounted on the apex of the cavities to generate electric power for grid access and/or electrolytic production of hydrogen and oxygen.
2. WHAT & HOW
The purpose of this innovation is to…
Harness tidal power more efficiently for electricity generation and sustainable hydrogen supply for the coming hydrogen economy.
It does this by…
Harnessing tidal motion to create air displacement from cavities on land.
3. PURPOSE & BENEFITS
This innovation improves on what came before because…
It is a new approach which eliminates marine corrosion of the technology, structures in the marine environment other than the pipeline entry structure, and places generation technology on the land surface where maintenance cost is minimised. The generators for this type of operation are almost inaudible and city-friendly.
The benefits to the customer/end-user include…
There are 50 known sites worldwide with tidal displacements in the 20-40 feet range, and many more with displacements in the 10-20 feet range.
Vertical silos will satisfy the former, and semi-horizontal pipe arrays the latter. All are inaudible.
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4. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
In the past, this problem was solved by…
Siting underwater turbines and/or constructing barriers with flow-through to drive generators.
Its predecessors/competitors include…
The above methods are currently in use and are costly to maintain as well as constituting maritime hazards.
5. TARGET MARKET
This innovation is made for…
Power and/or hydrogen/oxygen generation wherever tidal range allows.
Of necessity, these are coastwise locations.
Where electrolysis is employed, locations are limited to those sites which allow of ocean disposal of hypersaline water.
6. DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY
It is available for sale through…
This would require collaboration at government level with major engineering corporations. It is currently under consideration with the government of Western Australia.
Our marketing strategy is to…
Seek licensed take-up of the technology by governments.
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FINE PRINT
This SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity.
