Bjarni M Jónsson, student of the master programme in Coastal and Marine Management has during the past few months been working on a feasibility study on tidal energy in connection with his master thesis. The aim of the study is to find whether the tide in some of the inner fjords of the Breiðafjörður Bay can be exploited for energy harvesting. Bjarni has thoroughly monitored the depth and volume of the seawater in these fjords, but he has also looked into bridging, as the idea is that a harnessing project would also encompass bridge construction. Professor Þorsteinn Ingi Sigfússon, Director of the Innovation Centre, supervises Bjarni in his work.

 

In collaboration with the Westfjords Business Development Agency (AtVest), the Innovation Centre, the Westfjords Energy Company and the Road Administration, Bjarni is now preparing founding a growth company, which will develop these ideas further. The working name of the new company is Vesturorka-WesTide. This was announced at a press conference held at the Univeristy Centre on November 27.

 

Last spring Bjarni received a research grant from the Westfjords Business Development Agency, for investigating ocean currents as an energy harvesting opportunity, which helped him launch this project. Read the story.

 

For more information on the project please consult

Bjarni M. Jónsson, s.+354 8618007
Þorgeir Pálsson (AtVest), s. +354 8990020