Tidal Energy:

• Worldwide distribution
• Efficient technology
• Multiple benefits
The Current Situation
Tidal Energy is sustainable, clean, reliable,
widely distributed, and can offer significant
benefits to many marine nations.
Tidal Energy can be captured in an efficient
and cost-effective way.
Tidal Energy is not yet recognized by the
United Nations as an energy resource that
should receive support and funding for its
development.
development
Tidal Energy is a
clean, renewable
source of energy--
such as solar, wind,
biofuels, and low-
head hydro-- and
deserves official
international support
and funding for its
development.
development
The Worldwide
Distribution of
Tidal Energy
World Map of the Distribution
of Tidal Energy

Red areas show most intense tidal energy

Developing Nations
that could receive
significant benefits
from Tidal Energy
________________________________________

Indian Ocean: Comoros, Madagascar, Maldives, Seychelles.

Asia: China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Philippines, Vietnam.
Pacific Ocean: Fiji, Kiribati, Micronesia, Palau, Papua New

Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

Central and South America: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador,
Guyana, Panama, Surinam.
Atlantic Ocean: Cape Verde.
All coastal nations with tidal passes between coral reefs
Significant benefits

from using Tidal

Energy include:
include
• Electrification of isolated communities
• Generation for the grid
•Regrowth of coral reefs using
mineral accretion technology
• Substitution of imported petroleum
used to generate electricity
 Efficient technology to
capture Tidal Energy
is already cost-effective
Tidal Energy can
be captured
• efficiently and
• inexpensively
using the helical
turbine

Prof. Alexander Gorlov

of Northeastern University
with the helical turbine
he invented and perfected
Schematic view of the helical turbine
mounted in a frame.
Features of the
Helical Turbine:

Basic Concept
• designed for hydroelectric applications
in free-flowing water
• operates in ocean, tidal, and river
currents
• does not require expensive dams
that can harm the environment
Features of the
Helical Turbine

Operation

• self-starting with flow as low as 0.6 m/s

• smooth-running
• rotates in same direction regardless
of the direction of flow, making it ideal
for tidal applications
Features of the
Helical Turbine
35% Efficiency
Features of the
Helical Turbine
Power increases 8 times
when velocity doubles
2500

2000 I Knot =
1.69 ft/sec
Power (watts)

1500

1000 I M/sec =
500 3.28 ft/sec
0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Free Flow (Ft/sec)

Source: GCK Technology

Features of the Helical Turbine
Installation Cost: dollars/kw
14000
13000
12000
11000
Red: high estimate
10000 Blue: low estimate
9000
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0

Source: GCK Technology, Inc.

 Multiple Benefits
from Tidal Energy
Multiple Benefits from Tidal Energy.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Practical Examples:
Examples
1) Electrification of isolated
communities
2) Power for the grid
3) Regrowth of coral reefs using
mineral accretion technology
1) Electrification of Isolated Communities:
The Tide-Energy project
near the mouth of the Amazon

Rural residents with a 6-blade helical turbine

The Tide-Energy project near the
mouth of the Amazon:
a simple generating package

(c) Automotive
(b) Pulley and alternator
belt

(a) 6-blade
helical turbine
The Tide-Energy project near the mouth of the Amazon:
simple, accessible, affordable technology
Simple:
• The helical turbine rotates on a shaft with a pulley
that runs an alternator by means of a belt.
• The alternator charges batteries for household use,
as is usual with other intermittent sources—
solar and wind—when used off the grid.
•Accessible:
• About 90% of a tide-powered station can be built using
locally-available labor, materials, and equipment.
• Only the technically-refined helical turbine blades are
outside components.
The Tide-Energy project near the mouth of the Amazon:
simple, accessible, affordable technology

Affordable.
Under local natural and economic conditions:

• The investment in installation and equipment

of a tide-energy station is only 50% of the
comparable solar option.

That investment is similar to the cost of a small,

diesel-powered boat, which thousands
of people in the region already own.

• The operating costs of a tide-energy station are

less than 60% of those of the comparable
diesel option.
2) Power for the Grid
The Uldolmok Strait Pilot Project in Korea

1m x 2.5m GHT from GCK Technology, Inc.

The Uldolmok Channel Pilot Project in Korea
Results and perspectives:
Testing of the Gorlov Helical Turbine manufactured by
GCK Technology, Inc. was performed by the Korea
Ocean Research & Development Institute (KORDI).
Successful tests were carried out In 2002 using a 1m
diameter Gorlov Helical Turbine which produced about
10kW in a 4 knot flow.
As a result of these trials, a larger GHT (2.2m
diameter, 2.5m length) was designed and
manufactured by GCK and successfully tested by
KORDI in 2004
The GHT has also been successfully tested on floating
platforms off of Long Island, NY and in the Merrimack
River in Massachusetts.
 3) Generation of hydrogen for fuel cells from the
electrolysis of water from tidal currents that do
not need to be in close proximity to end-users.

Detail of
the Farm
4

3 Projected
Power
1 2 Farm

The Gorlov Helical Turbine modules can be assembled in large-

scale power farms, as depicted in the artist’s conception above.
4) Regrowth of Coral Reefs Using Biorock Technology:
Karang Lestari coral reef and fisheries restoration
project, Indonesia
Biorock
Biorock shore
shore protection
protection project
project atat Ihuru
Ihuru Island,
Island,
Maldives,
Maldives, turned
turned aa severely
severely eroding
eroding beach
beach into
into
15
15 meters
meters (50
(50 feet)
feet) growth
growth in
in aa few
few years
years

Before: Severe erosion

Biorock
Biorock reef
reef in
in front
front of
of the
the beach
beach uses
uses electricity
electricity
to
to grow
grow solid
solid limestone
limestone rock
rock on
on aa steel
steel frame
frame and
and
to
to grow
grow corals.
corals. This
This slows
slows down
down waves,
waves, causes
causes
sand
sand to
to settle,
settle, and
and attracts
attracts fish.
fish.
 A few years later:
beach has grown
15 meters (50 ft.).

Tidal energy can

grow Biorock reefs
to protect whole
islands from sea
level rise, while
restoring their
coral reefs and
fisheries
Biorock’s technology speeds the growth of coral reefs 3-5
times and increases survival from severe high
temperature 16-50 times. This rapidly increases fish
populations and creates ecotourism attractions.
Biorock’s technology can be used to regrow dying coral
reefs throughout the world, build coastal protection,
restore fisheries, and create mariculture resources.
Biorock’s technology has been proven in field tests in
more than 20 Caribbean, Pacific, Indian Ocean, and
Southeast Asian countries.
Tidal Energy often found around coral reefs and atolls
can be used with Biorock’s technology to regrow reefs in
an inexpensive, low-maintenance way using the helical
turbine.
 Conclusions
• Tidal Energy is sustainable, clean, and reliable.
• Tidal Energy is widely distributed and can offer
significant benefits to many coastal nations.
• Tide Energy can be captured in a practical,
efficient, cost-effective way.

Tidal Energy deserves to be included on the list

of sources of sustainable energy supported and
funded by CSD, GEF, UNDP, IEA, UNIDO, CDM,
etc.
 Contact Information
Thomas J. Goreau, Ph.D.
President
Global Coral Reef Alliance
37 Pleasant Street
Cambridge MA 02139 USA
+1 (617) 864-4226
goreau@bestweb.net
http://www.globalcoral.org
Mr. Edward L. Kurth
President and General Counsel
GCK Technology, Inc.
607 Bluff Cliff Drive
San Antonio, TX 78216
+1 (210) 496-5902
kurth@gcktechnology.com
Scott D. Anderson, Ph.D.
Coordinator
The Tide-Energy Project
near the Mouth of the Amazon
+1 (352) 246-8246 (mobile)
sdand@bellsouth.net
Prof. Alexander M. Gorlov
Chief Technology Officer
GCK Technology, Inc.
607 Bluff Cliff Drive
San Antonio, TX 78216
+1 (617) 277-0986
gorlov@gcktechnology.com