Low head tidal power: a major source of energy from the worlds oceans

There are a large number of tidal sites in the world's oceans which can provide a significant, viable and cost effective source of reliable energy. Many are strategically located close to populated areas where they can be economically harnessed using an ecologically benign low-head technology developed by Nova Energy Ltd. Early work was carried out under research contracts with the Canadian National Research Council Hydraulics Laboratory in Ottawa. This paper summarizes prior developmental and field trial work, identifies suitable sites and describes the work the authors is doing in the areas of design, marketing, project development and financing. He is using a new design with insights applied to an old concept patented but never built by French hydro engineer Darrieus over 50 years ago. His proprietary design and extensive model testing and field trials have evolved into a new type of low-head water turbine whose genesis was the vertical axis catenary type wind turbine proposed by Darrieus, 1931.