Tidal generator supplies sufficient electricity to Zhoushan

The 3.4-megawatt LHD-developed tidal energy generating unit is located on Xiushan Island, Daishan county, Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province [Photo/zj.zjol.com]

The 3.4-megawatt LHD-developed tidal energy generating unit installed in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province has supplied more than 1 million kilowatt hours of electricity to the national power grid since it began operating two years ago. The unit is now capable of generating 1.7MW of power after having undergone three capacity expansions.

Theoretically, this amount of tidal power helps reduce 933 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions and save 347 tons of standard coal that may otherwise be used in thermal power generation.

The generator, located in the sea off the southern coast of Xiushan Island in Daishan county, was developed by LHD, a company based in Hangzhou, with the backing of the Zhejiang government. 

It has easily beaten the previous world record held by a generator of this kind, which operated for less than four months. It also ranks first in the world in terms of installed capacity with 3.4MW, beating the previous record of just 1.2MW, making China the third country in the world after the United Kingdom and the United States to have obtained tidal energy generation and grid connection technologies.