Engineering Study of Tidal Stream Renewable Energy Generation and Visualization: Issues of Process Modelling and Implementation

Abstract

Tidal stream energy has the potential to make a significant contribution to the UK energy mix over the coming years. Accurate modelling and visualisation of both tidal resource and array layout will enhance understanding of in stream tidal behaviour leading to improvements in site identification and optimal positioning of individual turbines, and a realistic representation of blade loading conditions will aid designers and manufacturers in creating more robust devices and improve survivability. The main barriers to large scale deployments of tidal arrays are the costs associated with manufacturing, installation and maintenance, therefore presently tidal energy is not competitive on cost with more established renewable technologies. Opportunities do exist to reduce costs and this technology can become competitive in the long term, however improved understanding of both environmental conditions and device behaviour is need to achieve this. The ability to visual represent realistic behaviours will assist both industry and academics during resource modelling, site selection, selecting optimal array configurations and the design and manufacture of devices. It is in the interest of all practitioners involved in tidal stream energy to develop robust models which can reliably simulate real world conditions and enhance understanding of tidal processes, flow regimes and device survivability issues.

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