Ocean Current Energy System In The Works By Toshiba And IHI

The teams as IHI Corporation and Toshiba Corporation have begun work on an ocean energy power generation system. They've been selected by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) as co-researchers in their new system for "Research and Development ("R&D") of Ocean Energy Technology – Demonstration Research of Ocean Energy Power Generation". The team have been working on research and development since 2011 on a Next-Generation Ocean Energy Power Generation (Underwater Floating Type Ocean Current Turbine System) – demonstration research is coming up next.

While many energy groups are harvesting the power of the sun with Solar Power, and others are harvesting the power of the wind with turbines above ground, NEDO is promoting this R&D project with IHI and Toshiba to head down below the ocean.

While they've been working on the project since 2011, they've only now reached a point at which NEDO has approved their ability to head down to the ocean's floor to conduct testing in the field.

This system will use power generated by underwater currents, temperature differences, waves, and tidal movements. The study will be "extensive" according to NEDO, and will continue to be aimed at generating power while countering the effects of global warming. Lowering CO2 emissions while generating power all the same, that is to say.

This "underwater floating type ocean current turbine system" will be developed over the next few years, and is expected to be complete inside the year 2017.

This Japan-based solution will work with an underwater floating system with two counter-rotating turbines. "It is anchored to the sea floor and floats like a kite carried and driven by the ocean current."

Below you'll see an a solution that's SIMILAR, but not THE SAME as the solution above. This solution was developed by Siemens and is being utilized in Ireland.