Scotland’s new tidal stream turbine has officially generated more sustainable, renewable energy than the 12-year history of Scotland’s use of wave technology.
In only one year, the floating tidal stream turbine, named the SR2000 turbine, has accumulated more green energy than the past 12 years that Scotland’s wave and tidal sector has been in operation. This means that the turbine was able to produce 3GWh of energy, enough to power around 830 households.
Before the advent of this turbine, the tidal sector had only managed to produce 2.983 in the entire existence of the program.
On top of the astounding performance the machine has managed to display in regard to renewable energy, the machine is easy to clean and easily accessible for routine maintenance checks.
Scotland’s chief executive officer of Scotrenewables Tidal Power highlights the benefits of the machine.
“The ability to easily access the SR2000 for routine maintenance has been a significant factor in our ability to generate electricity at such levels over the past 12 months, including over winter,” Scott notes.
Many renewable officers in Scotland are optimistic regarding the future of this technology.
“This milestone for the tidal energy industry truly demonstrates the untapped potential of this emerging sector. Scotland’s remarkable marine energy resource has placed us front and centre in developing this industry with global potential,” notes senior policy manager, Hannah Smith.
Renewable energy has been on the rise for years, but with innovations like this, clean energy may be poised to beat out natural gas as the leading source of green energy.
According to the Charleston Gazette, the ever-lowering price of green fuels may lead to more renewable power plants. By 2035, it’s estimated that renewable power plants might be cheaper to build than maintaining current natural gas plants already in operation.
According to writer David Roberts, wind has become one of the cheapest renewable energy resources, especially in the midwest. For the southwest, however, solar energy is the leading renewable energy source.
For large companies, making this switch is becoming a fast reality. But for the average homeowner, making changes to large-scale renewable energy can be difficult.
If you’re feeling like you want to help the environment, you can contribute by making small changes in your home.
One of the first things you can do is limit your car use. The carbon emissions from cars and some of the 184,549 motorcycles that are registered in Colorado alone are key promoters of climate change. Try to carpool or work from home whenever possible to reduce your carbon footprint.
Farming is an important staple to our livelihood, but heavy industrial farming is bad for the environment. This is because of the massive amount of carbon used by machinery to grow, process, and transport goods. By eating locally and opting for a vegan diet, you can reduce your carbon footprint by practically 75%. In the UK alone, there are 3.5 million people who have opted for a vegan diet.
If you can’t commit to engaging in a vegan diet, there are other ways to reduce your energy consumption. In the winter, the average home loses up to 38% of its heat through drafty doors and windows. If your windows are single-pane, then you could be losing up to 50% of your heating. This raises your energy bill as your HVAC unit has to work harder to heat your home. Choose modern double-pane windows or consider putting plastic around your windows to prevent heat loss when you need it most.
You can also help by donating to sustainability initiatives. This can help promote the innovations, like Scotland’s beneficial SR2000.