tidal doc
TRANSCRIPT
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TIDAL ENERGY WHICH IS CLEAN, GREEN&SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
Abstract:
Energy can be extracted from tides by creating a reservoir or basin behind a
barrage and then passing tidal waters through turbines in the barrage to generate
electricity. Tidal energy is extremely site specific requires mean tidal differences
greater than 4 meters and also favorable topographical conditions, such as
estuaries or certain types of bays in order to bring down costs of dams etc.
Both tidal stream and wave power devices have suffered from stringent
economic assessments which have cut off R&D. The total tidal stream resource is
assessed as low (by the Carbon Trust) thus banishing it to the fringe, and tidal
lagoons get contrasting pro and anti-assessments while the Severn mega-barrage
gets optimistic treatment.
We find good reasons to distrust narrow economics, driven by interested
parties. However active engagement requires us to define and cover the range of
non-monetary issues - including learning and technology enhancement,
decentralized power, and wider environmental and socio-economic benefits.
The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) currently has the task of
addressing the tidal power area, but has run restricted events dominated by an
in-group of official bodies and project promoters. With WWF and FOE arguing
different options, we on the fringe need to understand and discuss the issues in a
tidal context, and to make an input into the SDC process and the 2007 Energy
Review.
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INTRODUCTION:
Non-conventional energy sources can be replenished in a short period of
time. They are basically five types which include tide, wind, solar, bio-mass and
geo-thermal. Tide is nothing but the natural rise and fall of coastal waters caused
principally by the interaction of the gravitational fields of the sun and the moon.
This paper provides a review of tidal power development and global picture with
particular reference to the Indian scenario. Tidal energy is one of the renewable
energy sources that could be used without producing by-products that are
harmful to nature.
WHAT IS TIDAL ENERGY?
Tidal energy is the utilization of the sun and moon's gravitational forces - as
tides are formed by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon on the oceans of
the rotating earth. Tides can be found with varying degrees of strength on any
coastline, and sometimes even at sea, although these are better known as
currents. A flood tide is one that is coming in or rising and an ebb tide is one that
is going out. Tidal energy is one of the oldest forms of energy used as evidence of
tide mills from before 1100AD has been found along the coast of France, Spain
and the UK.
If there is one thing we can safely predict and be sure if on this planet, it is
the coming and going of the tide. This gives this form of renewable energy a
distinct advantage over other sources that are not as predictable and reliable,
such as wind or solar. The Department of Trade and Industry has stated that
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almost 10% of the United Kingdoms electricity needs could be met by tidal
power.
Why do the tides come and go? It is all to do with the gravitational force of
the Moon and Sun, and also the rotation of the Earth. This is displayed in the
following diagram
.
Figure 1 Gravitational effect of the Sun and the Moon on tidal range(Adapted
from Boyle, 1996)
Sourced: (ACRE) Australian CRC for Renewable Energy LTD
The diagram shows how the gravitational attraction of the moon and sun
affect the tides on Earth. The magnitude of this attraction depends on the mass of
the object and its distance away. The moon has the greater effect on earth
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despite having less mass than the sun because it is so much closer. The
gravitational force of the moon causes the oceans to bulge along an axis pointing
directly at the moon. The rotation of the earth causes the rise and fall of the tides.
When the sun and moon are in line their gravitational attraction on the earth
combine and cause a spring tide. When they are as positioned in the first
diagram above, 90 from each other, their gravitational attraction each pulls
water in different directions, causing a neap tide.
The rotational period of the moon is around 4 weeks, while one rotation of
the earth takes 24 hours; this results in a tidal cycle of around 12.5 hours. This
tidal behavior is easily predictable and this means that if harnessed, tidal energy
could generate power for defined periods of time. These periods of generation
could be used to offset generation from other forms such as fossil or nuclear
which have environmental consequences. Although this means that supply will
never match demand, offsetting harmful forms of generation is an important
starting point for renewable energy.
State of the art / Current Status
There are two options for getting energy from the tide, a tidal barrage or
utilizing tidal streams.
HOW IT WORKS:
These work rather like a hydro-electric scheme, except that the dam is
much bigger. A huge dam (called a "barrage") is built across a river estuary. When
the tide goes in and out, the water flows through tunnels in the dam. The ebb and
flow of the tides can be used to turn a turbine, or it can be used to push air
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through a pipe, which then turns a turbine. Large lock gates, like the ones used on
canals, allow ships to pass. If one was built across the Severn Estuary, the tides at
Weston-super-Mare would not go out nearly as far -there'd be water to play in for
most of the time. But the Severn Estuary carries sewage and other wastes from
many places (e.g. Bristol & Gloucester) out to sea. A tidal barrage would mean
that this stuff would hang around Weston-super-Mare an awful lot longer! Also, if
you're a wading bird that feeds on the exposed mud flats when the tide goes out,
then you have a problem, because the tide won't be going out properly any more
Electricity is generated by water flowing both inwards and out of a bay.
There are periods of maximum generation every twelve hours, with no electricity
generation at the six-hour mark in between. The turbines may also be used as
pumps to pump extra water into the basin behind the dam at times when the
demand on electricity is low. This water can later be released when the demand
on the system is very high, thus allowing the tidal plant to function likepumped
storage" hydroelectricity.
THE TIDAL BARRAGE
Introduction
This is where a dam or barrage is built across an estuary or bay that
experiences an adequate tidal range. This tidal range has to be in excess of 5
meters for the barrage to be feasible. The purpose of this dam or barrage is to let
water flow through it into the basin as the tide comes in. The barrage has gates in
it that allow the water to pass through. The gates are closed when the tide has
stopped coming in, trapping the water within the basin or estuary and creating a
hydrostatic head. As the tide recedes out with the barrage, gates in the barrage
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that contain turbines are opened, the hydrostatic head causes the water to come
through these gates, driving the turbines and generating power. Power can be
generated in both directions through the barrage but this can affect efficiency and
the economics of the project.
This technology is similar to Hydropower, something that we have a lot of
experience with in Scotland. There is potential for a project of this kind in
Scotland, one place in particular which has been looked at is the Solway Firth in
south west Scotland, where there is a tidal range of 5.5 meters [1-The Open
University Renewable energy Pack T251].
The construction of a barrage requires a very long civil engineering project.
The barrage will have environmental and ecological impacts not only during
construction but will change the area affected forever. Just what these impacts
will be is very hard to measure as they are site specific, and each barrage is
different.
Current Technology
The following diagram is a simplified version of a tidal barrage.
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Figure 2 Ebb generating system with a bulb turbine (Adapted from Energy
Authority of NSW tidal Power Fact Sheet)
Sourced: (ACRE) Australian CRC for Renewable Energy LTD
There are different types of turbines that are available for use in a tidal
barrage. A bulb turbine is one in which water flows around the turbine. If
maintenance is required then the water must be stopped which causes a problem
and is time consuming with possible loss of generation. When rim turbines are
used, the generator is mounted at right angles to the to the turbine blades,
making access easier. But this type of turbine is not suitable for pumping and it is
difficult to regulate its performance. Tubular turbines have been proposed for the
UKs most promising site, The Severn Estuary, the blades of this turbine are
connected to a long shaft and are orientated at an angle so that the generator is
sitting on top of the barrage. The environmental and ecological effects of tidal
barrages have halted any progress with this technology and there are only a few
commercially operating plants in the world, one of these is the La Rance barrage
in France, for more information see the La Rance Case Study.
Figure 3: Bulb Turbine
http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_sites/01-02/RE_info/tidal1.htmhttp://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_sites/01-02/RE_info/tidal1.htm -
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Sourced: (ACRE) Australian CRC for Renewable Energy LTD
Figure 4: Rim Turbine
Sourced: (ACRE) Australian CRC for Renewable Energy LTD
Figure 5: Tubular Turbine
Sourced: (ACRE) Australian CRC for Renewable Energy LTD
Pumping
The turbines in the barrage can be used to pump extra water into the basin
at periods of low demand. This usually coincides with cheap electricity prices,
generally at night when demand is low. The company therefore buys the
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electricity to pump the extra water in, and then generates power at times of high
demand when prices are high so as to make a profit. This has been used in Hydro
Power, and in that context is known as pumped storage.
The power available from the turbine at any particular instant is given by:
Where,
Cd = Discharge Coefficient
A = Cross sectional area (m2)
G = gravity = 9.81
r = density (kg/m3)
The discharge coefficient accounts for the restrictive effect of the flow
passage within the barrage on the passing water.
The equation above illustrates how important the difference between the
water levels of the sea and the basin, (Z1-Z2), is when calculating the power
produced.
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Economics:
The capital required to start construction of a barrage has been the main
stumbling block to its deployment. It is not an attractive proposition to an
investor due to long payback periods. This problem could be solved by
government funding or large organizations getting involved with tidal power. In
terms of long term costs, once the construction of the barrage is complete, there
are very small maintenance and running costs and the turbines only need
replacing once around every 30 years. The life of the plant is indefinite and for its
entire life it will receive free fuel from the tide.
The economics of a tidal barrage are very complicated. The optimum design
would be the one that produced the most power but also had the smallest
barrage possible.
Social Implications:
The building of a tidal barrage can have many social consequences on the
surrounding area. During the construction of the barrage, the amount of traffic
and people in the area will increase dramatically and will last for a number of
years. The La Rance tidal barrage in France took over 5 years to build. This will
also bring revenue to the area from the tourism and hospitality industry that will
accommodate all the different types of visitors that the barrage will bring. This
will give a boost to the local economy.
The barrage can be used as a road or rail link, providing a time saving
method of crossing the bay or estuary. There is also the possibility of
incorporating wind turbines into the barrage to generate extra power. The
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barrage would affect shipping and navigation and provision would have to be
made to allow ships to pass through.
The bay would become available for recreation; the waters would be calmer
not immediately after the barrage but further in towards the land. This would be
another tourist attraction and become a feature of the area.
Environmental Aspects
Perhaps the largest disadvantages of tidal barrages are the environmental
and ecological affects on the local area. This is very difficult to predict, each site is
different and there are not many projects that are available for comparison. The
change in water level and possible flooding would affect the vegetation around
the coast, having an impact on the aquatic and shoreline ecosystems. The quality
of the water in the basin or estuary would also be affected, the sediment levels
would change, affecting the turbidity of the water and therefore affecting the
animals that live in it and depend upon it such as fish and birds. Fish would
undoubtedly be affected unless provision was made for them to pass through the
barrage without being killed by turbines. All these changes would affect the types
of birds that are in the area, as they will migrate to other areas with more
favorable conditions for them.
These effects are not all bad, and may allow different species of plant and
creature to flourish in an area where they are not normally found. But these
issues are very delicate, and need to be independently assessed for the area in
question.
TIDAL STREAMS
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Introduction
Tidal streams are fast flowing volumes of water caused by the motion of the
tide. These usually occur in shallow a sea where a natural constriction exists
which forces the water to speed up. The technology involved is very similar to
wind energy, but there are some differences. Water is 800 times denser than air
and has a much slower flowrate; this means that the turbine experiences much
larger forces and moments. This results in turbines with much smaller diameters.
The turbines must either be able to generate power on both ebbs of the tide or
be able to withstand the structural strain. This technology is still in its infancy
despite the potential for a reliable and predictable source; therefore it has not
been included in the possible technologies discussed with relevance to the
Renewable Obligation for Scotland.
The experiences from the development of wind power can be applied to the
technology. Scotland has a definite potential for tidal stream energy to be
converted to electricity, one area of focus is the Pentland Firth off the north
coast.
Tidal stream technology has the advantage over tidal barrages when you
compare environmental and ecological issues. This technology is less intrusive
than on and offshore wind, and tidal barrages, any hazard to navigation or
shipping would be no more than that experienced by current offshore
installations. Tidal Stream systems often have to be installed in difficult coastal
waters and the installation and maintenance methods are often complicated, but
these hold they key for ensuring the success of the technology.
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Current Technology
Energy can be captured from tidal streams using two methods, tidal fences
and tidal turbines.
Tidal Fences
These are effectively another form of tidal barrage. They therefore share
some of the same environmental and social concerns, but also have the
advantage of being able to have the electrical generators and transformers above
the water. The flowing diagram shows an example of a tidal fence.
Tidal Turbines
This form of generation has many advantages over its other tidal energy
rivals. The turbines are submerged in the water and are therefore out of sight.
They dont pose a problem for navigation and shipping and require the use of
much less material in construction. They are also less harmful to the environment.
They function best in areas where the water velocity is 2 - 2.5 m/s [2-Fujita
Research]. Above this level the turbine experiences heavy structural loads and
below this not enough generation takes place. The following diagram, figures X!!!
is an impression of a tidal turbine farm.
One new technology that has been developed is the Stingray. This project
has definite potential and planning is underway for a trial in the North of
Scotland. For more information see the
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Impression of tidal Turbine Farm
Economics:
Tidal stream technology is still in its infancy and therefore there are no
comparable projects at the present time. The cost of utilising tidal streams will be
very site specific and depend on the technology used. The turbine or other
generating plant equipment can be considered to have a similar cost to wind.
Once installed, electricity will be produced with no fuel costs and will be
completely predictable. Maintenance costs will be the main costs during the life
of the project.
Social Implications:
Tidal Streams are common in remote areas. This means that careful
consideration of the wishes of the local community is required to ensure the
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scheme can work to its potential. Being under water avoids aesthetic problems
and shipping and navigation should not be affected provided it is taken into
consideration when planning. The scheme can provide employment during
construction and operation, which will add to the local economic prosperity. Also,
these schemes are unique at present and would help to put the area on the map.
Environmental Aspects:
The environmental effects of utilising tidal streams are in no way as severe as
those for a tidal barrage. They will obviously affect the seabed where they are
positioned and this might have an effect on the aquatic life in the area. This is
again site specific and hard to predict; as long as proper environmental impact
assessments are done then this can be avoided or minimised.
Comparison of Tidal Barrage and Tidal Stream - different forms of Tidal Energy
Tidal range is the difference in height between high and low tide. Tidal
stream is the flow of water through channels or around coastlines as a result oftidal water movement. Some people talk of marine currents, as energy in the Gulf
Stream and other circulating currents could also be tapped.
Barrages to tap the tidal range are sited in upper estuaries, while tidal
stream turbines tap the currents in lower estuaries and straits. As a result the two
may not conflict. Tidal streams are tapped, in both ebb and flood directions, by
submerged turbines. These are much smaller than wind turbines because the
power density in water currents is much larger than in air currents. Though tidal
barrages have a long history, tidal stream generators are considered much more
feasible nowadays A major drawback with the Severn Barrage, and to a lesser
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extent Severn tidal lagoons, is the need for supporting power stations to fill in the
slack periods.
Tidal currents, on the other hand, deliver less discontinuous power than a
barrage and if Tidal current technology made use of several sites with a range of
Tidal timings it would give reasonably steady overall power.
A second drawback of barrages and lagoons is that they change the
sedimentation and erosion pattern. This is especially important in the Severn
because the strong currents make for very high loading in silt and sand. Note:
Spring tides contain about 4 times the energy of Neap tides, and about 10 times
the silt loading.
Major structures reduce currents, so the silt tends to deposit inside the
barrage or lagoon and in backwaters outside the structure. Scour may also be
enhanced outside the structure. For the former reasons, proposals for a major
barrage in the Bay of Fundy (Annapolis, Canada) have been dropped and, because
of shoreline erosion, a causeway is to be removed.
Each proposed barrage or lagoon would need specific studies - as far as a
scale hydrodynamic model, as done for the old Severn Barrage study - and even
then predictions would be uncertain.
Marine Current TurbinesLtd: (MCT) has come up with a tidal energy
turbine to generate carbon free electricity.The turbines are driven by tides or by
oceanic circulations. Now, MCT has successfully installed the worlds first
commercial scale tidal energy turbine in Northern Ireland. The tidal energy
turbine which looks like a submerged windmill, marks the completion of the first
http://www.marinebuzz.com/2007/12/20/california-goes-for-commercial-wave-power/http://www.marinebuzz.com/2007/12/20/california-goes-for-commercial-wave-power/http://www.marinebuzz.com/2007/12/20/california-goes-for-commercial-wave-power/http://www.marinebuzz.com/2007/12/20/california-goes-for-commercial-wave-power/ -
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installation phase of 1.2 MW SeaGen Tidal System. SeaGen is located
approximately 400 meters from the shoreline, 1 km south of the ferry route
between Stanford and Portaferry. The SeaGen tidal system is expected to be
operational later in the summer and has the following interesting features:
16 metre diameter blades
has twin rotors
will be turned by the water streaming in and out of Strangford Lough at up to 8
knots
Weighs 1000 tone
will operate for up to 18-20 hours per day
can power up 1000 homes
Here are some sketches of SeaGen Tidal System.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Strangford+,Northern+Ireland,&mrt=loc&ie=UTF8&ll=55.825973,-7.119141&spn=11.000557,40.737305&z=5http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Strangford+,Northern+Ireland,&mrt=loc&ie=UTF8&ll=55.825973,-7.119141&spn=11.000557,40.737305&z=5 -
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The Future of Tidal Power:
The high capital costs associated with tidal barrage systems are likely to
restrict development of this resource in the near future. The developments that
do proceed in the early 21st century will most likely be associated with road and
http://www.marineturbines.com/21/technology/24/technical_advantages/http://www.marineturbines.com/21/technology/http://www.marineturbines.com/21/technology/24/technical_advantages/http://www.marineturbines.com/21/technology/ -
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rail crossings to maximize the economic benefit. There is, however, more interest
in entrainment systems now than at any time in the past 20 years and it is
increasingly likely that new barrage and lagoon developments will be seen,
especially in those locations which offer combination with transport
infrastructure. In a future in which energy costs are likely to rise and assuming
that low-cost nuclear fusion or other long-term alternatives do not make an
unexpectedly early arrival, then tidal barrage schemes could prove to be a major
provider of strategic energy in the late 21st century and beyond. The technology
for tidal barrage systems is already available and there is no doubt, given the
experience at La Rance, that the resource is substantial and available.
Full-scale prototype tidal-current systems are now being deployed. If these
schemes continue to prove successful, then the first truly commercial
developments will appear in the first decade of the 21st century. Tidal-current
systems may not yet have the strategic potential of barrage systems but, in the
short term at least, they do offer opportunities for supplying energy in rural,
coastal and island communities. In the longer term, massive sites such as the
Pentland Firth could become strategically important.
INDIAN SCENARIO:
Since India is surrounded by sea on three sides, its potential to hamess tidal
energy has been recognized by the Government of India. Potential sites for tidal
power development have already been located. The most attractive locations are
the Gulf of Cambay and the Culf of Kachchh on the west coast where the
maximum tidal range is 11 m and 8 m with average tidal range of 6.77 m and 5.23
m respectively. The Ganges Delta in the Sunderbans in West Bengal also has good
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locations for small scale tidal power development. The maximum tidal range in
Sunderbans is approximately 5 m with an average tidal range of 2.97 m. The
identified economic tidal power potential in India is of the order of 8000-9000
MW with about 7000 MW in the Gulf of Cambay about 1200 MW in the Gulf of
Kachchh and less than 100 MW in Sundarbans. The Kachchh Tidal Power Project
with an installed capacity of about 900 MW is estimated to cost about Rs. 1460/-
crore generating electricity at about 90 paise per unit. The techno-economic
feasibility report is now being examined.
ADVANTAGES OF TIDAL ENERGY:
The most important advantage of tidal energy is its economical benefits, as
tidal energy does not require any fuel. Tides rise and fall every day in a very
consistent pattern. The economic life of a tidal plant is very high. A plant is
expected to be in production for 75 to 100 years, in comparison with the 35 years
of a conventional fossil fuel plant. Besides the economical factors, tidal energy is
clean and renewable, unlike fossil fuels. Tidal energy offers a lot of potential to be
a substitute for hydrocarbon and fossil fuels. A very important feature of tidal
energy is that it is non-polluting. A tidal barrage can prevent approximately one
million tons of CO2 per TWH generated. A barrage can also safeguard coastlines
from storms.
DISADVANTAGES OF TIDAL ENERGY:
The altering of the ecosystem at the bay is the biggest drawback of tidal
power. Damages like reduced flushing, winter icing and erosion can change the
vegetation of the area and disrupt the balance. The alteration of tidal currents
affects the habitat of the seabirds and the fish. Similar to other ocean energies,
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tidal energy has several prerequisites that make it only available in a small
number of regions. For a tidal power plant to produce electricity effectively
(about 85% efficiency), it requires a basin or a gulf that has a mean tidal
amplitude (the differences between spring and neap tide) of 7 meters or above. It
is also desirable to have semi-diurnal tides where there are two high and low
tides every day. Tides out in the ocean have maximum amplitude of about one
meter. As you move closer to shore, this can increase to as high as 12 or more.
This can depend on local features such as shelving or funneling meaning the tidal
range can vary considerably along any given coastline. This can mean that a lot of
places just aren't suitable. When planning the location major consideration has to
be given to see whether the tides are high enough and if there is a suitable place
for building the site.
The Severn Mega-Barrage:
The ebb-tide generating scheme as drawn up by the Severn Tidal Power Group
(STPG) could deliver 17 terawatt hours per year (TWh/yr). A revised report was
published in 2002 for the DTI (STPG 2002). The scheme would deliver about 5% of
current England and Wales electricity consumption of 350 TWh/yr and cut 18
million tones CO2 per yr (from the UK's ~600 Mt CO2 per yr total).
Diurnal fluctuations could be smoothed out by a two-basin design, whereby
off-demand power is used to pump water into a higher second basin.
The DTI recommended this for further study. Operating the pair of basins to
meet the demand cycle gives electricity of much greater value. The timing issue
has been largely ignored for renewable, but will have to be taken into account for
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any large tidal scheme. If back-up power stations or storage systems are needed,
economic assessment will need to compare total system costs with a two-basin
design.
The Barrage proposed would stretch 10 miles from Lavernock Point, east of
Barry, to near Brean Down in Somerset, impounding an area of 185 square miles.
The scheme's embankment would pass between the two islands (Steep Holm and
Flat Holm) between which there is a deep channel. The Barrage would
incorporate locks to allow shipping and smaller craft to access the port at Bristol,
other docks and the river Severn. The proposed generating capacity (maximum
output) is 8.6 gigawatts (GW). To balance slack periods, it needs operating
together with our largest power station (Drax) cycling up and down (at the
maximum output from spring tides, it would require two such power stations to
cover the slack times).
The Shoots barrage scheme sited upstream of Bristol is sized at 1 GW, to
generate 2.75 TWh/yr (one sixth the mega-barrage). The capital cost is an eighth
and construction time a half of the mega-barrage. Other advantages claimed for it
by promoters PB Power (of Parsons Brinkerhoff Ltd.) are - no impacts on the
major ports (only on Sharpness), sufficient grid capacity (the mega-barrage
requires ~ 1.5 bn to reinforce the electricity grid), and suitable to carry a high-
speed rail link. The sedimentation problem is severe, but considered manageable
via a design with high turbines and limiting intake at storm times and spring tides.
The mega-barrage as a development project:
Protection against sea-level rise - the DTI assessment argues for multi-bn
benefits in terms of coastal protection. The Shoots Barrage would secure part of
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these benefits. However, present policy is for coastal retreat ('realignment') and
spending of ~600M on defences, so the Environment Agency has challenged the
DTI claims.
The mega-barrage is inevitably a large development project. As well as the
construction sites at each end, electrical substations with new National Grid lines
and a new road link are envisaged. Marinas and executive housing islands linked
to the barrage structure are also proposed. Prof. Brian Morgan (ex-Wales
Development Agency) promotes the concept of a seven side urban metropolis.
Some, if not all, of the CO2 saving would be absorbed in energy -hungrydevelopment and on-going activity.
Environmental studies so far indicate that tidal energy does not result in the
emission of gases responsible for global warming or acid rain associated with
fossil fuel generated electricity. Use of tidal energy could also decrease the need
for nuclear power, with its associated radiation risks. One concern is that the tidal
flows caused by damming a bay or estuary could, result in negative impacts on
the immediate environment. This is still unclear as very little is understood about
how altering the tides can affect incredibly complex aquatic and shoreline
ecosystems. However each specific site is different and the impacts depend
greatly upon local geography. Local tides changed only slightly due to the La
Rance dam, and the environmental impact has been negligible. It has been
estimated that in the Bay of Fundy, tidal power plants could decrease local tides
by 15 cm.
The negative environmental impacts of tidal barrages are probably much
smaller than those of other sources of electricity. Tidal energy has the power to
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generate significant amounts of electricity at suitable sites around the world. But
the potential is yet to be fully explored.
USES AND ECONOMY
The friction of the bulging oceans acting on the spinning earth results in a very
gradual slowing down of the earth's rotation but this is not expected to impact us
for billions of years. Therefore, for practical purposes, tidal energy can be
considered a sustainable and renewable source of energy. It can prove to be a
valuable source of renewable energy to an electrical system. The demand of
electricity from a grid varies with the time of the day. Tidal power, although
variable, is reliable and predictable and can make a valuable contribution to an
electrical system, which has a variety of sources. Tidal electricity provides a good
alternative to conventional methods of generating electricity, which would
otherwise be generated by fossil fuel (coal, oil, natural gas) etc, thus reducing
emissions of greenhouse and acid gases.
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Conclusion:
Tidal energy should be focused on for next generative fuel source, it is renewable
energy source with many potential benefits. There are many sites worldwide that
can use barrage open water turbine process. Tidal power has a potential to one-
day account for one fifth is our total consumption, so they never solve or current
energy dilemma. They could provide assistance, but never more than that-we
could not totally rely on this technology.
BIBILOGRAPHY:
Sites referred:
1] www.worldcollegs.info
2] www.darvill.clara.net
3] www.google.com
http://www.darvill.clara.net/http://www.darvill.clara.net/ -
7/30/2019 tidal doc
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SEMINAR REPORT