CLEARWATER PROJECT ENABLES TIDAL STREAM ENERGY IN LOW CURRENTS

Nijmegen, 29 June 2011 – The Clearwater Project will generate tidal stream energy from the Eastern Scheldt barrier using tidal stream turbines. Tidal stream energy is a highly sustainable and environmentally friendly form of renewable energy. Above all it is a proven technology, with several projects on the way around the world. The Clearwater Project is remarkable, because it will generate energy from lower tidal velocities and consistent currents, something that was not possible in an efficient and cost effective manner up until now. Normally, tidal turbines are applied in areas with strong tidal currents. The Clearwater Project combines Atlantis Resources Corporation’s leading technology with the specialised Dutch engineering skills, experience and know-how of Ballast Nedam, Delta Energy, IHC Merwede and Royal Haskoning. It is estimated that with the Consortium’s initiative, 50% of the total economically exploitable free stream energy in The Netherlands is secured. This breakthrough accomplishment also opens up the potential for tidal stream energy in Delta’s around the world with similar conditions, in particular where access to conventional energy is a problem.

This will be a tremendous achievement, given the fact that in the Netherlands, use of tidal and hydropower as an energy resource is effectively limited due to the typical riverine and tidal conditions commonly found in deltas. Deltas do however make up a significant part of the world’s free stream tidal resource and our success in The Netherlands to capture it on a sizeable scale efficiently and cost effectively means that tidal stream energy could also become available to many other deltas around the world.

The Clearwater initiative was proposed as a business case to Top Team Water, who in a bid to boost export of the Dutch Water Sector, invited the Netherlands’ leading industry members, research and government institutes to submit business cases that would strengthen the sector’s export base. Selected business cases were put forward to the Dutch Government’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (Minister Verhagen) for immediate implementation in the Netherlands on 17 June 2011, with the Top Team adding momentum and support in order to shape the right conditions for swift implementation. The Clearwater initiative is in line with the ambition of the Zeeland Province to become the Water Energy Valley.

Clearwater consortium is pleased that its business case is granted status of exemplary project and that the Top Team supports this project. A swift implementation is expected with the combined strength and commitment of the Consortium, Top Team Water and Government.

The Clearwater consortium consists of Zeeland’s utility company DELTA Energy, IHC Merwede, Ballast Nedam, Royal Haskoning and Atlantis Resources Corporation.
Topsector Water is one of the 9 Dutch industrial Topsectors, which will be supported by adequate industrial policy and instruments from the Dutch government. The overall objective is to establish a leading position in international markets, bases on a strong Dutch USP’s. A Top Team of industry leaders gave counsel to Minister Verhagen of Economic Affairs and Innovation.