Reviews of development and utilization of tidal energy over Chinese offshore

Abstract

China has carried out five massive investigation and selection work on tidal energy and the latest survey results show that China's theoretical potentiality of the tidal energy within 10m depth contour offshore is estimated to be 192.86 GW. 171 potetial sites that have over 500 kW installed capacity add up to 22.83GW in total, with an annual energy output of 62.6 TWh. These potential sites of large scale for tidal power plant have developed in seventeen places in coastal areas in Zhejiang and Fujian provinces, each of which has the installed capacity of over ten thousand kW and enjoys fantastic natural conditions. With the support from special funds for Marine Renewable Energy, and local government and enterprises, Rushankou, Jiantiao, Bachimen, Maluanwan, and Oufei, five tidal power plants with installed capacity of over ten thousand kW, have already got complete pre-scientific research design, making it possible for further development and exploitation. While special funds also aided standardized work for development and exploitation of tidal power, it lays sound foundation for the development of the industry. Since 1950s, China has established numerous small-sized tidal power stations and built Jiangxia tidal power station, the third largest one in the world in 1986. After years of experience, the construction, maintenance and management of the tidal power station in China are relatively mature, yet still lower in development and utilization rate compared with other major maritime countries such United Kingdom, France, Canada, South Korea, and Russia. Based on the current situation of the tidal energy in China, following suggestions are proposed: abiding by the principle of sustainable development, economic utilization, scientific and technological orientation, moderate advance, and international cooperation, we will improve the specification of China's laws and regulations of renewable energy, while establishing unified, efficient and coordinated legal system for energy development and utilization. We will formulate a long-term and comprehensive overall plan for energy development and utilization on the basis of giving priority to functional zoning while balancing the administrative division. We will set up a leading body for the management of the overall national energy development projects, and define its position, duties and powers. We will draw up preferential policies to promote the energy development, further increase financial support and establish both normal mechanism featuring ever-increasing financial special funds and market competition mechanism. On the other hand, we will draw strength from foreign experience and use policy tools such as tax, subsidies, renewable energy trust fund, renewable energy quota obligations, and green pricing. We will construct as soon as possible the tidal energy standards for resource exploration, appraisal procedure, conversion equipment, power plant construction, and maintenance management. We will develop plans and comprehensive management system, strengthen policy and financial support, make full preparation in upper design before development and exploration, and make full preparation in assessment of environment assessment of engineering and marine usage demonstration while paying attention to ecological protection and coordinated development.