The plans, which were recently announced, look to make use of the powerful, fast flowing Agulhas current. If the project gets the go-ahead, it will make use of a massive, floating generator which will be roughly the same size as a five-storey building and will be anchored to the ocean’s floor about 100m below the surface.

“The Agulhas is one of the most consistent currents in the world. So, if the ocean current generation was to happen, Durban would be an ideal location to start harnessing it. If we can get it right, it has the potential to completely transform the city into a green energy location for investment,” said Derek Morgan of the eThekwini Energy Unit.

There are still numerous obstacles to navigate however, and chief among them is the passing environmental impact studies.

“If everyone is happy from the environmental point of view, Durban will be the first customer to get electricity from the project. It’s a milestone,” said acting head of the Durban Investment Promotion Agency, Russel Curtis.

The initiative has been driven by the city and local businesses and has the potential to speed up investment in sustainable energy in the area greatly. The prototype system, called Oceanus, will be funded entirely by private entities, exempting taxpayers from bearing any costs. The initial investment sum stands at R155 million, but investors are confident that once the project takes off, they’ll make their money back quickly.

“We will put up the money for the units and the installation – about R155m for the first one – and will then sell the electricity to the city and to Eskom. That is how we make our money,” Mark Antonucci, co-chairman and chief executive officer of Hydro Alternative Energy (HAE) said.

In terms of the environmental impact of the project, Antonucci has reassured the public that every precaution will be taken to ensure no damage is done to the fragile, marine ecosystem.

“The vanes (driving the turbine) move very, very slowly and the spaces between them are up to 2m, which allows for fish which live in deeper waters to swim through.

“The units are placed too deep to affect shipping lanes and are at least 30km to 40km offshore. The development unit will also be placed at the edge of the Agulhas current rather than in the middle, which is tremendously powerful,” he said.

Tomorrow HAE, which is a US-based company, and the SA-based Occtur Ocean Energy will present their proposals at a workshop in Durban.

[Source: The Mercury, Fin24]