In ‘Fish technology’ draws renewable energy from slow water currents the University of Michigan News Service describe a machine called VIVACE (Vortex Induced Vibrations for Aquatic Clean Energy).
VIVACE has also been featured recently as “Ocean currents can power the world, say scientists” by Jasper Copping of the Daily Telegraph.
The main benefits of VIVACE are that it works in lower speed currents than turbines and requires less area than wave power machines.
As well as the noted benefits, VIVACE would likely be a more cost effective, and less environmentally damaging means of extracting energy from tides in the Severn Estuary than a tidal barrage.
