Monday 11 October 2010

Undersea wind farms the future says hydropower boss

The chief executive of the world's second- biggest manufacturer of hydropower plants believes that wind farms on the ocean floor will be part of the energy mix of the future.

Wolfgang Leitner of Austrian firm Andritz said: "Everyone is looking for new renewable energy technologies and resources. Ocean turbines have a number of advantages, including being out of eyesight and providing predictable energy generation."

In August Andritz bought a 33% stake in Hammerfest, a the Norwegian tidal-technology developer installing a tidal-stream turbine off Scotland's coast.

France's Alstom is the world's biggest maker of hydropower plants.