Estonia to build underwater hydro plant

[The Lawspeaker]

Estonia to build underwater hydro plant

TALLINN — In an effort to bring down power prices and increase carbon-free energy production, Estonia may get a underwater pump hydroelectricity plant along its northern coast.

The plant which will be about 200 m below water and produce 300 mw of electricity, although the Ministry of Economy is questioning the need for such large power capacity. Businessmen Jüri Mõis, Hannes Tamjärv and Aivar Berziniga with the company OÜ Energiasalv are counting on the parliament to add a new subsidy to the Electricity Market Act to make their plans possible.

The plant is planned to be built in the Jõelähtme municipality, 20 km east of Tallinn, with initial construction works scheduled for 2011. Energiasalv has also requested a building permit to construct a 5 hectare artificial island in case the Jõelähtme municipality will not issues a permit.

The company asserts that the plant is needed to address Estonia’s increasing electricity costs and lack of reserve sources.

“Estonia does not have a reserve power source in case some energy blocs fall out and another electricity deficit emerges,” Lembit Vali, Energiasalv’s director told the Äripäev newspaper.

[Bloodeagle]

What technology would they employ to harness this hydro power?
Would this be a tidal power plant?

[The Lawspeaker]

What technology would they employ to harness this hydro power?
Would this be a tidal power plant?

I have no idea but the audacity of making such mayor investments during a raging crisis is admirable. Maybe one of our Estonians could answer that question ?

[Äike]

I have never heard of this planned underwater hydro plant, before you posted this thread.

[The Lawspeaker]

I have never heard of this planned underwater hydro plant, before you posted this thread.

I stumbled upon it by accident. Maybe you could check the Estonian newspapers and see whether you can find some background info ?

[Heretik]

What technology would they employ to harness this hydro power?
Would this be a tidal power plant?

Maybe by using sea currents too?

[EWtt]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumped-...droelectricity

I read it may produce up to 500 megawatts of electricity, and it's a pump-hydroaccumulation station several hundred meters deep inside a layer of granite. The station makes it possible to speculate on the Nordic electrical market Nordpool based on price changes and offers balancing energy for wind generators.