Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world's biggest shipbuilder and Korea's largest green energy provider, completed the site trial of a prototype 500 kW tidal current power system at Uldolmok Passage in Jeollanam-do, southwest Korea last June 10, 2011.
Tidal current power is a form of hydropower that converts the kinetic energy of the tidal currents into electricity using turbines. This type of green energy is now in the spotlight thanks to its weather-proof and sustainable power generating capability.
Hyundai Heavy's prototype tidal current power system directly connects a tidal turbine, a gearbox, and a generator for power transmission.
The system can operate regardless of current direction using a specially designed turbine system. After completing factory and basin tests last year, the Company successfully produced target power generation from site trials this May.
Based on the data collected from the trials, Hyundai Heavy plans to pursue tidal current power farm projects by scaling up power generators. The Ulsan-based company is also part of the government-backed National Project for Developing MW-class Tidal Current Power Farm with other Korean companies. The project is due to be completed in 2014.
