Starting Spring 2011, Hales Energy Ltd will start construction of a new special Race Track Type water flow test tank in East Sussex which will be used for testing new blade profiles and configurations together with various ducting profiles to suit a variety of applications. Specialised torque sensor and water flow equipment will be installed in the tank for testing to a certification level and also aid in preparation for the necessary fish friendly trials this turbine will need to undertake.

Meanwhile, the design work on the one metre prototype will continue at Trinity Buoy Wharf. As well, we shall be carrying out a detailed long term study of the tidal water flows in that area with highly accurate water flow test meters purchased from Omini Instruments which are both doppler and rotational types and can be hooked up to computer software for later analysis.

The new light weight Carbon Fibre Power Blades have been fitted to the prototype and not only lighten the whole device without a loss of strength but look really smart.
Many thanks to Dr Tim Swait, along with Dr Simon Hayes, at the Dept of Engineering Materials, Sheffield University, for arranging these special blades, hopefully the feedback to Tim will help the advancement of composites use in marine energy.

Paul Hales, one of the Directors of Hales Energy Ltd will be working full time at the new test tank location as from April 2011, which should speed up the testing and data collection, with the hope to have results completed by the autumn 2011. Then to design varies sizes of complete micro generation units for the commercial and domestic markets. Research will still continue into designs for ocean current and large scale tidal applications.
Computer Fluid Dynamic modelling has already taken place for the design of a special ducting system to use in conjunction with the Hales Turbine to boost water flows past the blades, this to allow deployment in sub 2.0 m/s flows such as many areas of the English Channel etc.