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Energy From the Severn Estuary Trinity College, Bristol, March 10 th 2007. Energy Extraction Technologies. Barrages Tidal Lagoons Tidal Stream Tidal Fences. Tidal Power – Lagoons (Pictures: WWF Wales). Tidal Power – Tidal Streams (Picture: Tidal Generation Ltd). Tidal Fences.
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Energy From the Severn EstuaryTrinity College, Bristol, March 10th 2007
Energy Extraction Technologies • Barrages • Tidal Lagoons • Tidal Stream • Tidal Fences
Tidal Power – Lagoons(Picture: WWF Wales) Pictures Courtesy Tidal Electric Ltd
Tidal Power - Lagoons Pictures Courtesy Tidal Electric Ltd
Summary of Lagoons • Energy claimed at 3.4p/kWh • Large volumes of aggregates & transport required • Uncertainties of sealing, sedimentation, seabed preparation & storm integrity • Some environmental issues to be resolved (e.g. area of sea-bed usage, blockage to sea users, & fish entrapment)
Tidal Power – Tidal Streams(Picture: Marine Current Turbines Ltd)
Features of Tidal Stream • Short lead time less capital intensive • Modular income starts on installation of first unit • Low impactavoids main barrage env. issues • Competitive early farmsin the region 7-8p/kWh • BUT: • The Severn resource is ~10-15% of that from a barrage • Although some tidal stream resource may be extractable in addition to a barrage • Foundations could double for offshore wind turbines
Environmental Impact • Controllable extraction - modular units can be sited to minimise effects on shipping or fishing • No blockage - marine life relatively undisturbed, zero to low mortality • Tidal heights not affected - no effect on salinity, inter-tidal or sub-tidal zones • Some issues to be addressed - rotor/mammal interactions, electromagnetic and acoustic noise emissions
Challenges of Tidal Stream • Harsh environment • Pinning large loads to the sea bed • Retrieval for maintenance in water up to 100m • Sub-sea cabling and connections • Grid capacity onshore • Sea mammal interaction – uncertainties
Photo courtesy Seacore Ltd Not an easy environment…..
How much resource is there? • UK – up to 4GW • 3 of these….
Potential Tidal Stream Sites(Source: DTI UK Atlas of Marine Renewable Energy)
Systems already demonstrated (1) (Picture: Marine Current Turbines Ltd)
Systems already demonstrated (2) (Picture: IT Power Ltd.)
Larger recent demonstrations Hammerfest Strom, Norway
Larger recent demonstrations ENERMAR 120kW Variable-pitch Darrieus (Italy)
Larger recent demonstrations Engineering Business 150kW Stingray reciprocator (UK)
Larger recent demonstrations Open Hydro Marine Current Turbines
State of Tidal Stream Industry • Being led by the UK • Strong UK Govt support for R&D & capital • Many device concepts – no convergence as yet • A few medium scale prototypes are in the sea: many more to follow • Market entry costs are high – £10m min • Commercial machines a few years off • Some planning, environmental and grid capacity issues to be addressed • An environmentally benign offering to the sustainability mix
Emissions and Materials Consumption • Cradle to grave assessment required • Tidal Stream:shorter construction time, pay back quicker. Steel in construction is energy intensive but less aggregate and concrete • Tidal Lagoons:very high aggregate demand but little ancillary infrastructure • Tidal Barrages:large material requirement, transport and ancillary infrastructure e.g. roads, port facilities; long pay-back time • (Slide by Morgan Parry, WWF Wales)
Species and Habitat Impacts • Tidal Stream Energy devices: environmental appraisals currently being carried out on individual devices. Fish and mammals may avoid them, acoustic deterrence possible • Tidal Fences:greater obstacle to fish and mammals than individual devices, but not complete barrier like barrage • Tidal Lagoons:fish and mammals may avoid the area but risk of fish entrapment during flood generation • Tidal Barrages:reduce tidal range creating a loss of habitats. Water quality reduced if dispersal/dilution inadequate. Barrier to fish movements • (Slide by Morgan Parry, WWF Wales)
Sediment Flow • Tidal Stream Energy devices: current turbines currently being modelled in Strangford Lough and elsewhere • Tidal Fences: considerable reduction in energy of water column but less than barrage • Tidal lagoons:currents and wave patterns altered. Choice of location can reduce sedimentation in shipping channels • Tidal barrage:highly modified sediment regime and nutrient flux upstream and downstream. Navigation impacts • (Slide by Morgan Parry, WWF Wales)