Tidepod proof of concept

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ESRC
ESRC
ESRC
Innovate UK
Innovate UK

£436,175

Jan. 1, 2012

May 31, 2013

Marine renewable energy could provide up to 20% of UK electricity consumption. The sector
is in the early phase of commercialisation. To become economically viable and reach its
potential the marine renewable energy sector needs to reduce the cost and time taken to
deploy tidal energy converter devices in large scale arrays.
Tidepod Ltd is a start-up business based in Falmouth, Cornwall co-founded by Commodore
Steven Jermy RN and Philip Hemsted. Tidepod Ltd was formed to commercialise Steven
Jermy's invention to reduce the cost of deploying, installing, maintaining and recovering tidal
energy converter devices. The business is in bootstrap mode having self-funded the initial
market research, patent applications and concept development. The business has entered into a
collaboration agreement with University of Plymouth/ Peninsula Research Institute for Marine
Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE) to develop the proof of concept of the Tidepod device.
The Tidepod concept is to fit tidal energy converters onto a submersible electrically-powered
barge. Tidepod's are towed to the required location and connected to the inter-array cables
and then self-submerge. The Tidepod self-positions under its own motive power to the right
location on the sea floor. The Tidepod is secured on the seafloor by virtue of its weight, in the
same way as a wreck or submerged submarine. For on-site maintenance, the Tidepod is
surfaced, using onboard compressed air and, for repair and deep maintenance, disconnected
and towed to a local dockyard.
The purpose of the proof of concept is to develop the naval architecture of the Tidepod using
software modelling and a tank-tested-scale-model prototype device to to confirm the
submergibility and stability of the Tidepod in deployment and operating on the sea floor.