Tidal Power Technology Review

1 Solway Firth Technical Feasibility Study

Tidal Power; Technologies ReviewSolway; Stakeholder Presentation

Presented by: Dr Malcolm Balls

Date: 28th October 2009

http://www.mottmac.com/

http://www.rsk.co.uk/

04/24/232 Solway Firth Technical Feasibility Study2 Solway Firth Technical Feasibility Study

The Technologies

• Tidal Barrage:• Arrangement• Equipment• Mode of operation

• Tidal Lagoons:• Land connected• Isolated

• Tidal Reef• Tidal stream• Tidal Fence




Tidal Energy Barrage




La Rance tidal barrage, Brittany




Arrangement




•Equipment; TurbinesNote depth of water required for turbines.




Equipment; Sluices




Barrage modes of operation; Ebb-generation




Barrage operation; Ebb-generation with pumping




Barrage operation; 2-way generation




Comparison of operating modes




Barrage operation; ebb-generation effect on basin water levels




Tidal Lagoons; Land Connected or Isolated




Tidal Reef – a low-head barrage arrangement.




Tidal Power Reefs:

• Technology unproven• Design solutions not evident for many features• Reliable estimates of energy yield not available• Large turbines required in large numbers• Operational effects appear more environmentally

acceptable (e.g. larger part of tidal range retained)




Tidal Stream




Requirements for tidal stream development

• Current velocity >circa 4m/s• Significant depth of water to submerge turbine at low water• Space to set up array of machines

Advantages:• Small scale & piecemeal development possible• Effect on tidal regime minimized

Challenges:• Turbine design and deployment as yet at prototype stage• Large numbers of machines required for substantial output




Tidal Fence




Tidal Fence

• Technology unproven• Design solutions not evident for many features• Reliable estimates for energy yield not available• Large turbines required in large numbers• Operational effects appear more environmentally

acceptable (e.g. larger part of tidal range retained)



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Tidal Power Technology Review