ENVIROTEK Makes Tidal Instream Energy a Reality in Southeast Asia

ENVIROTEK Makes Tidal Instream Energy a Reality in Southeast Asia

Envirotek has announced its intention to develop commercial tidal instream
projects in Southeast Asia.

The initial focus is on the Philippines. In mid-February 2017, Envirotek,
working with an international team of experts, successfully deployed a 62 kW
SCHOTTEL Instream Turbine (SIT) in the waters off the Sentosa Boardwalk in
Singapore. This demonstration project showcases the viability of tidal
energy in the region. "This project is about developing appropriate
technologies to address the very real energy needs of Southeast Asia. We are
committed to delivering these tidal energy projects within the region, which
can make a real difference to the lives of so many", says Jefferson Cheng,
Chairman and Founder of Envirotek.

Envirotek has actively supported a recently concluded Ocean Renewable Energy
in Islandic Conditions Workshop jointly organized by the International
Energy Agency - Ocean Energy Systems (IEA-OES), the Energy Research
Institute @ Nanyang Technological University (ERI@N), and OceanPixel Pte Ltd
last March 8-9, 2017 where participants from the Southeast Asian
Collaboration for Ocean Renewable Energy (SEACORE) network and other global
island regions were present. Jefferson Cheng, Chairman and Founder of
Envirotek comments: "There is abundant resource within the Southeast Asian
region that can provide significant amounts of energy that has not yet been
tapped effectively. We are now building strong relationships with technology
and service providers to develop effective solutions that are appropriate
for deployment in this region."

Tidal Instream Opportunities in the Philippines

With more than 7,000 islands, many of which are isolated communities that
still have limited access to electricity, a significant opportunity exists
in the Philippines to harness the power of the oceans to provide a reliable
supply of energy.

Most of these communities use diesel generators to provide electricity. Due
to high costs of fuel, transportation and handling, the supply is regularly
limited to only 4-6 hours a day. Tidal currents regularly flow past many of
these islands, providing a readily accessible energy resource.

Envirotek is working with its global partners to develop commercially viable
tidal projects, which will benefit the local supply chain and attract inward
investments.

OceanPixel Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-based innovation company, is presently
providing Ocean Renewable Energy suitability analytics and project
management to Envirotek. OceanPixel Managing Director Dr. Michael Lochinvar
S. Abundo commented that, "To date, tidal energy has not been considered a
viable source of energy in Southeast Asia. The technology that we are
working on with our partners will make deployment in the region a commercial
reality. Furthermore, there is tremendous potential for harnessing tidal
instream energy in an archipelagic country like the Philippines. We are
looking at marine renewable energy to form part of the energy mix - starting
in off-grid areas but eventually feeding into micro-grids and ultimately the
main grid."

Integrated Floating Tidal Energy Solutions for Southeast Asia

Sustainable Marine Energy (SME) and SCHOTTEL HYDRO have been working on an
integrated surface floating platform solution (PLAT-I) for less aggressive
sites enabling the exploitation of a greater number of locations to support
island communities. SME's new PLAT-I platform provides a step-change
reduction in the cost of delivering tidal energy-one of the Earth's most
abundant and reliable renewable energy sources. PLAT-I floats on the surface
of the water and hosts 4 x SIT 250 turbines.

Jason Hayman, Managing Director of SME states that, "The need to supply
reliable, cost effective power to remote communities is of critical
importance. Working with Envirotek, OceanPixel and SCHOTTEL HYDRO, we
believe that we have a solution that delivers results. We recognise that
Southeast Asia presents a great opportunity and are keen to support
Envirotek to deliver and be part of their journey."

From Scottish into Southeast Asian Waters

Developed in Scotland by SME with governmental support, PLAT-I, a 268kW -
four SIT 250 - platform will be tested in Scottish waters before being
relocated to a demonstration site in Singapore. The delivery of such a
platform to Singapore, funded by Envirotek, will see a significant step up
in the scale and size of platforms available in Southeast Asia, and in the
delivery of a commercial demonstrator. SME and SCHOTTEL HYDRO are clear that
scaling up into arrays is a measured and sensible approach. Furthermore,
Jason Hayman commented, "Not all locations will need large utility scale 1MW
generating stations and, in many cases, such units will not be appropriate.
The Southeast Asian market is a great environment to prove that tidal energy
can be delivered incrementally, and eventually, scale to multi MW arrays
using smaller units that can be supported using local infrastructure."

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.marinetechnologynews.com/news/envirotek-makes-tidal-instream-5469
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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com