Tidal current resource assessment

Abstract

This paper outlines present thinking on the determination of accessible tidal current resources within channels and other potentially exploitable locations. The fundamental principles behind tides and tidal currents are briefly discussed and the implications of temporal and spatial variations on the evaluation of the resources considered in the context of artificial energy exploitation. The thinking behind the flux approach to resource estimation is presented and an example based on the Pentland Firth is considered. The impact of energy extraction on the flow patterns is considered in both one and two dimensions and the principles required for three-dimensional analyses are presented in a generic form.