The Orbital OA model and the Riverkinetic model are both included among the designs. Orbital’s current production turbine, the Orbital O2, will be launched in 2021. The company recently achieved a world record delivery of over 3.2 GWh of tidal stream power to the UK grid.
Designwork has studios in Munich, Los Angeles and Shanghai. Starting with large utility turbines, the two teams looked at how advancements in hydrodynamic performances, cost engineering and advanced production methods will influence the design of tidal turbines in the future. Streamlined systems in connected grid arrays have been forecast to yield greater efficiencies in cost with increasing operational autonomy. The vision for the OA model sees these turbines becoming akin to autonomous power generation fleets in the future.
A smaller Riverkinetic turbine will be tailored to communities with a need for greater energy independence. The turbine will be lighter in weight and readily transportable, in contrast to the diesel generators relied upon by many people in remote locations currently.
“Our goal is to see our technology deployed across the world to help deliver a cleaner, more sustainable planet” said Andrew Scott, Orbital CEO. “the collaborative work between Orbital and BMW Group Designworks has been an inspirational exercise, an exciting combination of collective experience and talent across the teams”.
Holger Hampf, President Designworks, added that Orbital’s embrace of strategic design exemplifies the benefit of including design early in the development process.
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