Tidal power

ABB Ltd
17 October 2003

ABB helps to create world's first underwater propellor- driven power plant



ABB technology turns tidal currents into power in Norway




Zurich, Switzerland, October 17, 2003 - A pilot project, using ABB technology,
has begun with the aim of creating the world's first underwater propellor-driven
power plant to generate electricity from tidal currents.

A single prototype mill, resembling an underwater windmill, has just been
installed and is generating power off the coast of northern Norway.

Hammerfest Strom, a Norwegian company partly owned by ABB, is conducting the
pilot project.



'Our system, with a windmill underwater - the so-called watermill -  is the
first of its kind in the world that has proved capable of producing electric
power from streaming tidal water, and which is connected to a commercial power
grid,' said Olaf Harald Mehus, chairman of Hammerfest Strom. 'If the year-long
trial period is successful, we want to install 20 underwater mills in the same
area, capable of generating 16 MW of power.'

The prototype in the narrow Kvalsundet strait near Hammerfest has been linked by
cable to the onshore power grid, and is generating 300 KW of power - enough to
power 30 households.

The prototype underwater mill stands on the seabed and has three, ten-meter long
propellor blades attached to an ABB generator. Tidal currents create power by
spinning the blades, which automatically adjust to the best position in the
prevailing current.

About 15 meters beneath the water's surface, the blades rotate from three and
five times a minute and present no hazard to marine life.



ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable
utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering
environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100
countries and employs about 133,000 people.
For more information please contact:




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