Does anyone have a link to an explanation of exactly how this turbine works? I'm particularly interested to know whether it's bi-directional, how power is transmitted back to shore, and how it's anchored in place.
> how power is transmitted back to shore,
Article says there is a static sea-bed cable that that is connected via a "dynamic" cable to the turbine.
> how it's anchored in place. > whether it's bi-directional
Very high level overview of the platform here: https://orbitalmarine.com/o2/
It shows an forward and aft mooring points, so my assumption would be is that at anchors are put in the ocean bed and that the whole structure is held in place by cables.
It also shows a "Two-bladed pitching hub allows bidirectional operation", so I take that to mean the blades are rotated in the hub depending on which way the tide is flowing.
Bi-drectional? Looks like those adjusting flaps are to make it bi-directional yes, but maybe the angled legs mean it has a preferred flow direction (I'm guessing).
How power is transmitted back to shore? The video seems to show, in red, some good old "big fat cable" technology. It's described only as powering the Orkney Islands. I wonder if surplus energy there can be fed back to the mainland grid.
How it's anchored in place? Two massive mooring cables front and back. The main central cylinder floats, with the legs and rotors dipping down into the water (Maybe obvious, but not to me at first)