The Northern Territory Government has given the site license for Tenax Energy to build a major tidal energy project over the Clarence Strait.

The project, which costs $500 million, is close to the city of Darwin. Tenax Energy will be installing at least 200 one-megawatt turbines in the Clarence Strait between Darwin and the Tiwi Islands.

Tenax managing director Alan Major said, “The license allows us to undertake a range of studies on site so we can complete an environmental impact statement... We'll be doing a range of studies on fish numbers and other environmental aspects of the area as well as doing detailed studies of the tidal currents.”

The company has identified the project site and two other sites as potential areas for tapping a renewable resource as tidal energy. Banks Strait in Tasmania and Port Phillip Heads in Victoria are the other two but these are located down south.

The three sites satisfied the requirements that make an ideal location for tidal energy use. These factors are “high tidal velocity movement, sufficient water depth, and proximity to existing electricity grid infrastructure.”

As for the Clarence Strait, Major said, “The range along the coast with tidal falls of eight to 11 metres makes it world class.”

An environmental impact statement is being prepared for the $500 million project. According to major, “What we're looking to achieve is to generate enough renewable energy out of the Northern Territory to meet all of the Territory's requirements under the Federal Government's 20 per cent renewable energy target.”