An experimental turbine for the generation of tidal energy, developed at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland. The device itself is called SNAIL; it has been nicknamed "Brian" by its inventor, Professor Ian Bryden, after a character of the same name in the UK Channel 4 children's series "The Magic Roundabout".
Measuring approximately twenty metres in length, Brian the Snail is currently in prototype stage, to be tested offshore near Orkney. Professor Bryden claims that Brian will revolutionize the way in which tidal energy is collected: "At present the potential to use tidal energy is limited by installation methods for turbines, which require firm attachment to the seabed. This is very expensive and, at present, requires turbines to be placed in water depths greater than 25 m and less than 50 m. The full size SNAIL is a prefabricated tidal device that can be cheaply installed in shallow and deep water. This will significantly increase the number of suitable sites for turbines and reduce installation costs."
The project was funded through a grant of £158,000 from Scottish Enterprise Ltd.'s "Proof of Concept Scheme".
Sources:
http://www2.rgu.ac.uk/subj/mes/cee/tidal/brian.htm
http://www.rgu.ac.uk/news/disp_NewsPreview.cfm?pge_id=8393&vmenu=4&SubSection=news
http://www.rgu.ac.uk/rgunews/headlines/page_text.cfm?pge=9185 | 
