Generator Blog

Trident Energy’s plans to create power from sea waves suffered a setback after an 80-tonne floating generator capsized off the coast of Suffolk.

Trident Energy’s experimental device was being towed out to sea to begin a year-long offshore trial when the accident happened on Monday, 21 September near Southwold, Suffolk, eastern England.

The technology was being tested in the sea to gather detailed information on how the machine performed.

The generator was to have been placed 8km off Southwold for the year-long evaluation that may lead to new wave farms being developed that are capable of powering 60,000 homes.

Coastguards alerted local shipping as the 18-metre-tall machine drifted with the tide until tugs could secure lines and take it to nearby Dunwich Bay.

Trident Energy confirms that the generator has been grounded and made secure, about 5km east of Southwold harbour.

A spokeswoman for Trident Energy said that the company is in the process of making arrangements to move the platform to a suitable location where any damage can be fully assessed before determining next steps.

The spokeswoman added: “Trident Energy can confirm that the incident was in no way related to its patented technology to convert sea wave energy into electricity.”

The technology, developed by Trident, is designed to stand on giant legs that sit on floating pontoons anchored to the seabed. This enables special floats between the legs to move up and down with the waves and drive a turbine, which generates electricity.

It is not known at this stage whether the machine was badly damaged.