Tidal Bridge BV announced yesterday it has begun the feasibility study for the 18 to 23-MW Palmerah Tidal Bridge project located at Larantuka Strait in Indonesia.
The first phase of the project has a contract value up to US$200 million and the bridge and integrated power plant will be installed at the end of 2018.
Plans include constructing the 800-meter long Palmerah Bridge at Larantuka Strait, in East Flores and a tidal energy power plant. A powerhouse extension of 90 MW to 115 MW could be realized in 2020 at an estimated total cost of $550 million, according to Tidal Bridge BV.
Formed in 2015, Tidal Bridge BV is a joint venture between three Netherlands-based companies: Strukton International, part of Oranjewoud N.V.; Dutch Expansion Capital (DEC) investment company; and Antea Group.
The project is part of the maritime cooperation agreements between Indonesia and The Netherlands. Indonesia is also exploring other options with regard to tidal energy.
Atlantis Resources Ltd. (Atlantis) and DCNS Energies, two United Kingdom-based energy development companies, in March announced agreements to also develop marine energy in Indonesia.
Atlantis announced it has signed a preferred supplier agreement with SBS International Ltd., for the supply of turbines, engineering services and equipment for a 150-MW tidal-stream array located in Lombok, Indonesia.
Energy generated by the project will be sold to Indonesian state-owned utility Perusahaan Listrik Negara through a 25-year power purchase agreement.
Tidal Bridge BV said it signed a heads of agreement (a non-binding document outlining the main issues relevant to the tentative project) last year together with the Ministry of Public Works of Indonesia and East Nusa Tenggara, the southernmost province of Indonesia.
“This milestone is an extraordinary momentum to show our knowledge and experience. It is great to have the opportunity to contribute to this state of the art product in Indonesia,” said Strukton Sustainable Energy General Manager, André Hoogeveen, in a press release.
The company said the bridge and tidal power plant will contribute to the development of the eastern part of Indonesia and the connection between the islands by improving its infrastructure. Besides, it will have direct impact on the fishery and agro culture in the area, stimulate tourism and improve the access to education and health care on the longer term. The combination of the bridge with the tidal energy power plant makes this project unique in its kind.
The planned location, Larantuka Strait, is highly suitable for generating tidal energy due to the water flows, the company said, and makes it possible for local people to benefit from the bridge in multiple ways.
“We are proud to contribute to this bridge with cutting-edge technology and the largest tidal power plant in the world and in so doing be able to increase the living standard of the people,” said Eric van den Eijnden, Tidal Bridge BV chief operating officer.
It is the first project as part of the Dutch—Indonesian cooperation in the area of water works, said Tidal Bridge BV. The company also said the project is endorsed by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure & Environment, the Dutch Embassy in Jakarta, the Indonesian province NTT, the Ministry of Energy, Public Works & Marine and the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague.
