On the potential of linked-basin tidal power plants: An operational and coastal modelling assessment
File(s)
Accepted version
OA Location
Author(s)
Angeloudis, Athanasios
Kramer, Stephan C
Hawkins, Noah
Piggott, Matthew D
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Single-basin tidal range power plants have the advantage of predictable energy outputs, but feature non-generation periods in every tidal cycle. Linked-basin tidal power systems can reduce this variability and consistently generate power. However, as a concept the latter are under-studied with limited information on their performance relative to single-basin designs. In addressing this, we outline the basic principles of linked-basin power plant operation and report results from their numerical simulation. Tidal range energy operational models are applied to gauge their capabilities relative to conventional, single-basin tidal power plants. A coastal ocean model (Thetis) is then refined with linked-basin modelling capabilities. Simulations demonstrate that linked-basin systems can reduce non-generation periods at the expense of the extractable energy output relative to conventional tidal lagoons and barrages. As an example, a hypothetical case is considered for a site in the Severn Estuary, UK. The linked-basin system is seen to generate energy 80–100% of the time over a spring-neap cycle, but harnesses at best 30% of the energy of an equivalent-area single-basin design.
Date Issued
2020-08
Date Acceptance
2020-03-26
Citation
Renewable Energy, 2020, 155, pp.876-888
ISSN
0960-1481
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Start Page
876
End Page
888
Journal / Book Title
Renewable Energy
Volume
155
Copyright Statement
© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Sponsor
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Engineering & Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC)
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148120305000?via%3Dihub
Grant Number
EP/M011054/1
EP/L000407/1
Subjects
Energy
0906 Electrical and Electronic Engineering
0913 Mechanical Engineering
0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering
Publication Status
Published online
Date Publish Online
2020-04-05