 16m Open-Centre Turbine Courtesy of OpenHydro |  |  OpenHydro Turbine Research Structure Courtesy of OpenHydro |
The recent announcement about the narrowing gap between capacity and demand for electrical power highlights the need to find new ways of generating this precious resource. Renewable energy will make increasingly important contributions to the energy mix as fossil fuels run out. One such source is tidal power. One of the greatest advantages over other renewables is the predictability of the energy available from the tides. Therefore the race is on to harness this limitless source of energy. Many different prototypes are being built with different design concepts. One such design uses the same idea as a steam turbine. Turbine blades are fixed to a hub which is driven by the tide within an outer stator, thereby generating electricity. The movement of the rotor depends on having a smooth, corrosion resistant surface. Stainless steel is the natural choice for such an application, having a long track record in subsea applications. | 
