Abstract
In addition to technical and economic constraints, tidal energy leasing is generally governed by demand for sites which contain the highest tidal streams, and does not take into account the phase relationship (i.e. the time lag) between sites. Here, the outputs of a three-dimensional tidal model are analysed to demonstrate that there is minimal phase diversity among the high tidal stream regions of the NW European shelf seas. It is therefore possible, under the current leasing system, that the electricity produced by the first generation of tidal stream arrays will similarly be in phase. Extending the analysis to lower tidal stream regions, we demonstrate that these lower energy sites offer more potential for phase diversity, with a mean phase difference of 1.25 h, compared to the phase of high energy sites, and hence more scope for supplying firm power to the electricity grid. We therefore suggest that a state-led leasing strategy, favouring the development of sites which are complementary in phase, and not simply sites which experience the highest current speeds, would encourage a sustainable tidal energy industry.
Highlights
Making use of the tides to perform work is not a novel concept e for example around 750 tide mills are known to have been in operation at one time or another along the shores of the Atlantic [1]
We present the results from a three-dimensional (3D) tidal model of the NW European shelf seas (Section 4), demonstrating the phase diversity that would result from aggregating the electricity generated across a range of tidal current amplitudes
Our analysis of tidal current phasing throughout the NW European shelf seas reveals that more phase diversity is offered by lower tidal flow regions, compared to the phase diversity offered by high tidal flow regions (Fig. 7)
Summary
Making use of the tides to perform work is not a novel concept e for example around 750 tide mills are known to have been in operation at one time or another along the shores of the Atlantic [1]. A relatively new concept is making use of the tides, the kinetic energy of tidal streams, to contribute to significant electricity generation [2]. We discuss how a state-controlled leasing system, working in conjunction with privatised or centralised electricity networks, could lead to increased phase diversity, and the ultimate success of a sustainable tidal energy industry. We first introduce the study region (the NW European shelf seas; Section 2), provide an overview of generating electricity from tidal streams (Section 3), discussing tide generating forces, tidal currents, tidal power, and the concept of tidal phasing. We consider the characteristics of lower tidal stream sites, and discuss the implications of tidal phasing on leasing strategies, and other considerations such as energy storage, supergrids, and practical and economic constraints on tidal energy extraction (Section 5)
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