Under What Conditions SAR Along-Track Interferometry is Suitable for Assessment of Tidal Energy Resource

Abstract

Tidal current power is a renewable and predictable energy source that can be converted into a significant amount of useful energy. However, as tidal currents vary from site to site, it is necessary to map the tidal energy density over the chosen region, which is associated with economic feasibility. A promising technique called along-track interferometry (ATI) based in space-borne SAR is evaluated to be considered for mapping surface tidal currents and, this way, for assessment of its tidal energy resource. Under modeling environment, different conditions of ATI-SAR imaging were simulated to retrieve a known tidal current field. Environmental conditions such as ebb and flood tides, wind speeds and directions and SAR sensor parameters as incidence angle, ATI baseline between the antennas, and postprocessing filters were considered in the scenarios presented here. The retrieved current field obtained through ATI-SAR simulations were compared statistically with the initial current field. The results indicate that ATI-SAR could be used as a technique for investigating the spatial and temporal variability of surface currents. Once ATI-SAR is a remote technique, it can be relevant to identify suitable sites in the first steps of tidal energy resource assessment.