Renewable Energy Sources

for Coastal Regions

Part 2: Tidal and Current
M. L. Anderson, 2007
The Problem
The dependence on petroleum products to generate electricity.
High cost.
Transportation of these products.
Occasional shortages due to long distance transportation.
Pollution from use of carbon-based energy sources.
Alternatives
Coastal governments seek
alternative fuel sources for
the generation of electricity.
Solar power cells
Wind
Other marine sources of
energy such as
Tidal power
Current power
Wave energy
Ocean thermal energy
conversion
The Broader Impact
Widespread concern over global
climate change
Environmental impact of reliance
on fossil fuels
Climate change is one of the
greatest challenges humanity will
face this century.
It will take a radical change in the
way we produce and consume
energy another industrial
revolution, this time for clean
energy, conservation and
efficiency.
The Broader Impact
All forms of energy have
associated costs.
Fossil fuels are limited in
quantity and create vast
amounts of pollution.
Large- scale
hydroelectric power floods
valleys and destroys
animal and human habitat.
Nuclear power is very
expensive and creates
radioactive waste that is
even more expensive and
difficult to dispose of.
The Broader Impact
As global commitment to renewable energy
increases in the future, more attention is
likely to become focused on the immense
stores of energy associated with the ocean.
Alternative Marine
Power Resources
Development of modern
offshore engineering
capabilities coinciding with the
need to find large new
renewable energy resources
makes this a technically
feasible and economically
viable possibility.
Ocean energy comprises only
a miniscule proportion of
worldwide energy supply .
What can ocean energy contribute to
regional security?

Renewable technology, not dependent on foreign oil.
Modular technology, ease of instillation.
Distributed generation, can function off grid.
Economic growth.
Capital used for oil imports can be used for local social and
infrastructure improvements.

Why use the Ocean?

Concentrated resource, more so than solar
Intermittent and FREE like the wind
Currents, tides and winds are predictable
Minimal visual impacts and small footprint
Modular development, so projects can be phased
in
Alternative Marine Power Resources
Renewable energy from
the ocean would most likely
improve the environment
by replacing fossil fuel
plants and reducing carbon
emissions.
The ocean probably stores
enough energy in the form
of heat, currents, waves,
and tides to meet total
worldwide demand for
power many times over.
It will be critically important
to ensure that the
development of new ocean
energy be environmentally
friendly.
Overview of Marine Technologies
The use of kinetic energy via tidal currents (Tidal
current generators)
The use of kinetic energy via waves (Wave
energy converters)
The use of potential energy via tidal dams.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)
Off shore trade winds (Wind turbines)
Cost Issues (U.S. Prices)
Source Best Price (/kWh)
New Coal 3.5 cents
New Gas Comb. Cycle 2.6 cents (price volatility)
Wind 4.7 cents (average, w/out 1.8 cent PTC) 2.9
Solar Thermal 11 cents
Photo voltaic 18-27 cents
Wave Energy 7-13 cents (average, 1 MW demo all
technologies);
Tidal / Current Energy 6 cents for (per EPRI report)
Historic Perspective on Cost
Power Source Cost
Wind, early 1980s 25 cents /kWh
Wind, present 4-6 cents /kWh (w/out Power Tax Credit
U.S. (PTC)) 2.9-4
Wind, present 3.3 -5.3 cents /kWh
Ocean/ Wave, present 7-16 cents /kWh for demo
project; no PTC
Tidal Energy
Tides are caused by the gravitational attraction of the
moon and the sun acting upon the oceans of the
rotating earth.
The relative motions of these bodies cause the surface
of the oceans to be raised and lowered periodically,
according to a number of interacting cycles.
Tidal Energy
Tidal energy is exploited
directly from marine
currents induced by the
combined lunar and solar
gravitational forces
responsible for tides.
Extraction of energy from
the tides is practical only
at those sites where the
energy is concentrated in
the form of large tides
and the geography
provides suitable sites for
tidal plant construction.
Tidal Energy
The tidal range can be
amplified by reflection of the
tidal wave by the coastline or
resonance.
This occurs in long, funnel-
shaped estuaries, when the
length of the estuary is close
to one quarter of the tidal
wave length
Where coastal morphology
creates natural constrictions:
around headlands or between
islands.
This phenomenon produces
strong currents, or tidal
streams.
Tidal Energy
The tidal range can vary
substantially between different
points on a coastline.
The amount of energy
obtainable varies with location
and time.
Output changes as the tide
ebbs and floods each day.
Tidal energy is highly
predictable in both amount and
timing.
The available energy is
approximately proportional to
the square of the tidal range.
How does it work?
Tidal Barrage
-serves to let water
flow through it into a
basin as the tide
comes in
-power can be
generated in both
directions

How does it work?
Turbines
-used to pump extra water
into the basin at periods of
low demand
How does it work?
Tidal Fence
-looks like turnstiles that
turn via tidal currents
typical of coastal waters
How does it work?
Tidal Stream
-fast flowing bodies
of water cause by
the motion of the
tides
-occur in shallow
seas where natural
constriction exists
and causes water to
speed up
How does it work?
Offshore Turbines
-can either be partially or
completely submerged
-partially submerged are
less costly for
maintenance

How does it work?
Swanturbine
-blades are
connected directly to
the electrical
generator
-more efficient than
other devices
Tidal Energy:
Impoundment/Turbines
4 lane road tops this
242 MW tidal power
plant
La Rance Estuary, France
242 MW Operating Since 1967
The La Rance tidal power plant

It is located in La Rance,
France
The oldest and the largest
Tidal Plant is the La Rance
240 megawatt barrage
located near St. Malo, in
Brittany, Northern France.
This tidal power plant was
built for commercial
production and began
operating in 1966.

The La Rance Tidal Power Plant
It is highly automated,
requiring only two people to
operate it on weekends and in
the evening,
It supplies 90% of Brittany's
electrical needs.
After 30 years of productivity,
the power plant is undergoing
a $78 million renovation.
To provide uninterrupted
power production, the plant's
24 turbines are being
upgraded one at a time over a
10 year period.

Annapolis River Tidal Power Plant
The Annapolis Tidal
Power Plant was the
first to transform tidal
energy to electricity
in the U.S. (courtesy
Tidal Power Corp).
Proposed San Francisco Tidal Project
San Francisco
Bay is one of
top 10 tidal
energy sites
worldwide
Total tidal energy in SF Bay
~ 2000 MW (> 2x peak power demand of
San Francisco)
1 MW pilot project planned (future
expansion possible)
Turbines hidden
under bridge
or onshore
Hydroventuri
power modules
Hydroventuri Power Module used under
San Francisco Bay Bridge
Rochester Power Module

Where maximum
pressure drop
occurs air or water
is sucked from the
surface through a
system of pipes
The suction created in
this circuit is
sufficient to drive
turbines
The flow is passed
through a venturi
This causes the water
to accelerate and
the pressure to
drop
Water enters the module
2002, Hydroventuri, Inc. All rights reserved
South Korea

South Korea plans on building the largest tidal energy
power plant to be known as the Sihwa Tidal Power Plant.
It will be designed to generate 260 MW from constant
flow of water in and out of the seaside bay.
Cost $250 million US dollars.
Project expected to be completed by 2009.

Tidal and Current Technologies
Main Characteristics
Similar principle to wind
turbines, but current
drives turbines
Both vertical and
horizontal turbines
Potential uses for
ocean and rivers
Estimated costs as low
as 6 cents/kWh
because of economies
of scale with wind
industry (EPRI)
Kinetic Energy
Systems via
Tidal Streams
The level of power available from kinetic-energy extraction
schemes is generally much lower than from the potential
energy of impounded basins.
They do not require construction, high maintenance and
operation of dams and gates.
They have much less environmental impact.
much lower installation costs per kilowatt of capacity.
Marine Current Turbines
Blue Energy Canada Tidal Fence
Tidal Stream Energy
Tidal stream energy generation has a number of attractive
features:
predictability of tidal streams
high power density of water flow
lack of extreme flow speeds
minimal visual impact.

Obstacles include:
the expense involved in marine construction in the
presence of strong currents
the cost of cable-laying
cost of possible grid reinforcement.
Marine Current Technologies
Verdant Power
Current project
proposed for East
River in NYC
Each unit 25-250
kW
Authorized to install
6 unit configuration
and generate power
experimentally by
end of August 2006
Tidal Demonstration
East River, New York City
Verdant Power
received funding
from NYSERDA and
other participating
state, federal, and
private
organizations for a
prototype
demonstration.
FERC has issued a
preliminary permit
for the prototype
tidal project.
Tidal Demonstration
East River, New York City
The proposed East River
turbine field, shown in
green, will progress over
4 years, beginning in
2004. The 1 mile long by
270 feet wide and 30-40
feet deep tidal plant will
ultimately provide 5-10
MW.
Tidal Demonstration
East River, New York City
Verdant Power expects to
complete this $20
million East River
project, including power
conditioning and grid
connection, within four
years. Subsequent sites
are expected to be
developed in less than
one year.
Kinetic Energy Systems via
Marine Currents
Marine current turbines work like
submerged windmills, but driven by
flowing water rather than air.
They can be installed in the sea at
places with high tidal current
velocities, or in places with fast
enough continuous ocean currents,
to take out energy from these huge
volumes of flowing water.
These flows have the major
advantage of being an energy
resource which is as predictable as
the tides that cause them.
Marine Currents
The submerged turbines are rated at
from 750 to 1500kW per unit
(depending on the local flow pattern
and peak velocity),
will be grouped in "farms" under the
sea, at places with high currents,
much the same way that wind
turbines in a wind farm deployed.
Independent environmental impact
analyses confirm that the technology
does not offer any serious threat to
fish or marine mammals.
The rotors turn slowly (10 to 20
rpm).
Marine Current Technology
Marine Current
Technologies
300 kW pilot tested
in Lynmouth UK with
positive results
Dual turbine
technology under
investigation, 500kw
1 MW each
Examining other
sites, with delays
due to permitting
problems
Marine Current Turbines
Marine Current Turbines Ltd has almost completed the first
phase of tidal turbine development through research and
development and demonstration phases, to commercial
manufacture.
The company's plan is to complete the initial R&D phase known
as Seaflow by 2006, and to install a commercial prototype at
that time.
The target is for 300MW of installations to be completed by
2010 and after that, there is far larger growth potential from a
market literally oceanic in size.
Images
Cross-section of a tidal barrage
Tidal Turbine
Advantages of Using Tidal
Energy
The primary advantages of tidal power plants
are:
regularity of power production from year to
year with less than 5% annual variation
permits the simultaneous use of the dam for a
road or rail road
long-term operational lifetime of plant
protects vulnerable coastlines from storm
waves and flooding
provides a non-polluting and inexhaustible
supply of energy.
Disadvantages
Some disadvantages of tidal power plants are:
high capital costs for initial construction
limited number of potential sites. A minimum
tidal range (the difference between high and low
tide levels) is needed if tidal power is to be
practical. A range of 5 m is often cited as the
minimum. Over the past three decades, the
feasibility of using ocean tides to generate
electric power has been investigated at many
sites throughout the world.
Limited Sources
The potential for economic
development is small with only
six suitable areas representing
well over half of the potential
for development of tidal
energy.
1. The headwaters of the Bay
of Fundy (Canada)
2. The Severn estuary (United
Kingdom)
3. The Gulf of St. Malo
(France)
4. The south-east coast of
China
5. The Russian coast
bordering the White Sea
6. The Russian coast
bordering the Sea of Okhotsk
Limited Sources
Other potentially feasible sites
include:
The Mersey estuary and smaller
sites bordering the Irish Sea and
The Bristol Channel (United
Kingdom),
The Gulf of Kachch (India),
The west coast of Korea,
The north-west coast of Australia,
Cook Inlet (Alaska), and
The Gulf of San Jose (Argentina)

Environmental Challenges
Leads to smaller water volumes = more light =
change in ecosystem
Pollution increased
Technologies disturb sea life migration

Disadvantages
Potential for negative environmental impacts such
as water quality, estuarine feeding areas for birds
and other animals, and the passage of migratory
fish.
Few studies have been conducted to assess the
environmental impacts of constructing a tidal
power plant.
It has been generally determined that each
specific site is different and the impacts depend
greatly upon local geography.
Local tides changed only slightly due to the La
Rance barrage, and the environmental impact has
been negligible.
This may not be the case for all other sites. Very
little is understood about how altering the tides can
affect incredibly complex aquatic and shoreline
ecosystems.

Conclusion
Tidal power is a proven technology and has the potential to
generate significant amounts of electricity at certain sites
around the world.
Although, our entire electricity needs could never be met by
tidal power alone, it can be a great source of renewable
energy.
The negative environmental impacts of tidal barrages are
probably smaller than those of other sources of electricity, but
are not as clear at the moment.
The technological feasibility of both major and minor tidal
power designs has been established and the main barrier to
increased use of the tides is that of construction costs.
The future costs of other sources of electricity, and concern
over environmental impacts, will ultimately determine the
exploitation of tidal power.