Limerick Water Turbine Project Making Waves

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Limerick Water Turbine Project Making Waves

Two West Limerick companies currently developing and commercialising an innovative water turbine device are continuing to make waves since being awarded EU funding a number of months ago.

Rathkeale-based engineering company DesignPro has created hydrokinetic turbines using technology developed by Newcastle West tidal energy company GKinetic.

This technology is completely unique and can produce a constant supply of zero-carbon energy by doubling the speed of water to the turbine.

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And GKinetic Energy, headed up by Vincent McCormack, has just received €99,562 in funding from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s (SEAI) Prototype Development Fund to carry out further optimisation and testing in the Limerick Docks this coming August. 

“This funding achievement follows an exciting year of business development activities. GKinetic is ramping up plans to design, build and demonstrate a large scale 250 kW tidal device after successfully setting up a consortium of EU project partners,” said a spokesperson for GKinetic.

“This funding will see the deployment of an improved prototype device in the Limerick Docks, a purpose built test facility the company setup working with Shannon Foynes Port Company.

“The company will collaborate with NUI Galway, MaREI and Numerics Warehouse to carry out optimisation tests on key components of the device,” added the spokesperson.

Testing is projected to run for a six week period. 

The innovative hydrokinetic turbine device can accelerate the flow of water to produce zero-carbon energy in both river and tidal water sources.

Source: Limerick Leader

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