SustainableEngineering@Edinburgh

1. SustainableEngineering@Edinburgh Marine Renewable Energy in ScotlandBy: S. Dickson (0679718); J. Knight (0785854); D. Niland (0840777); R. Wallace (0673279)IMS3 Sustainability Module, March 2009 Introduction: In response to climate change Scotland has set a target to generate 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. With the best offshore resource in Europe, generators installed at sea will play a major role in meeting this target. Wave • Two different types; tidal barrage or tidal turbine • At present there is no generating capacity • 300 MW tidal barrage proposed for Solway Firth3 • Tidal stream – first installation of commercial device (1.2 MW) • in Strangford Lough (N Ireland); plans to install 50 MW in • Pentland Firth4 • Inherently predictable Tidal Wind • Shoreline devices e.g. WaveGen, or offshore devices e.g. • Pelamis (pictured) • The first commercial scale wave farm installed in Portugal • (21 MW) using Scottish technology • 0.27 MW is already installed, a further 9 MW has been • confirmed. Total potential of 14 GW2 • Currently only 10MW of installed power (Beatrice oil field) • Robin Rigg wind farm (Solway Firth) under construction • 60 x 3 MW turbines; 80m hub height, 44m blades • 6.4 GW of offshore wind farms planned1 • Offshore potential is 25 GW2 – more than Scotland’s entire • projected electricity consumption in 2020 Big challenge Big opportunity • The best wind, wave and tidal resources in Europe • Wind energy is a well-established technology and can provide large-scale generating capacity by 2020 ….beyond 2020 wave and tidal power likely to be commercially viable • Increased capacity factor for offshore wind turbines due to higher and more consistent wind speeds • Offshore conditions allow larger wind farms and larger individual turbines • Maintenance of offshore wind turbines expensive and weather- dependent – poor availability for first offshore turbines6 • Foundations need to be stronger than onshore devices • Lack of specialised installation ships/ rigs • Most sites remote from energy demand – major upgrade to transmission network required • Intermittency of resource European wind atlas7 Technology • Reduce carbon emissions (& other atmospheric pollutants) • Renewable sources of energy will not be depleted – sustainable! • Reduce visible impact by installing turbines offshore; even less impact for wave and tidal devices at or below sea-level • No problems with noise • New Marine Bill (Dec 2008) will establish a Marine Management Organisation, this will help simplify and streamline planning process • Lack of public support for new power lines (e.g. Beauly-Denny public enquiry) • Environmental impact of offshore wind not yet quantified (SEA due Jan 2010). Tidal – potential collisions between seals, fish and diving birds with rotating underwater blades • Seabird breeding colonies sensitive to disturbance during construction; collision risk during operation10 Environment % Electricity generation from renewables8,9 Key References 1. New Civil Engineer, 17 February 2009 2. Garrad Hassan, 2001. Scotland’s Renewable Resource – Report for the Scottish Executive 3. Howard,D.C. et al, 2007. Tidal power from the Solway Firth: barriers, impacts and capacity. British Hydropower Conference Proceedings 4.Marine Current Turbines Ltd website www.marineturbines.com/ 5. BERR, 2008. UK renewable energy strategy: consultation 6. Carbon Trust, 2008. Offshore wind power: big challenge, big opportunity 7. Troen,I., Petersen,E.L., 1989 European wind atlas, Riso National Laboratory, Roskilde 8.Scottish Government website www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Environment 9. UK Government website www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/ 10. Faber Maunsell & Metoc plc, 2007. Scottish Marine Renewables: Strategic Environmental Assessment – Report for the Scottish Executive • Offshore wind 60% more expensive than onshore6 - electricity prices likely to increase • Cost of offshore wind could reach £75 billion6 - difficult to finance? • Negative impact on fisheries & shipping5 • Interference with radar (defence)5 • Wind turbines all imported • Less dependence on fuel imports – energy security • Offshore expertise from North Sea oil/gas industry • Leading centres of research at 4 Scottish universities • European Marine Energy Centre based in Orkney • Developing offshore wind power could create up to 40,000 jobs in the UK (installation & servicing); up to 70,000 jobs if Government is proactive in supporting R&D, innovation and manufacturing6 Socio-economic