The Potential for Tidal Range Energy Systems to Provide Continuous Power: A UK Case Study
The extraction of tidal energy from head differences represents a predictable and flexible option for generating electricity. Here, we investigate the generation potential of prospective tidal power plants in the UK. Originally conceived as separate projects, operating these schemes as a cooperative...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/10/780 |
| _version_ | 1797551671802331136 |
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| author | Lucas Mackie Daniel Coles Matthew Piggott Athanasios Angeloudis |
| author_facet | Lucas Mackie Daniel Coles Matthew Piggott Athanasios Angeloudis |
| author_sort | Lucas Mackie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The extraction of tidal energy from head differences represents a predictable and flexible option for generating electricity. Here, we investigate the generation potential of prospective tidal power plants in the UK. Originally conceived as separate projects, operating these schemes as a cooperative system could prove beneficial. Combined with the inherent operational flexibility of tidal range-based schemes, a notable tidal phase difference in selected sites allows for the system to spread power generation over a larger proportion of the day. Using depth-averaged modelling and gradient-based optimisation techniques, we explore how a flexible cumulative operation schedule could be applied to provide a degree of continuous supply if desirable. While fully continuous operation is not achieved, a number of different optimisation schedules deliver cumulative continuous supply for over half of the year. The average minimum cumulative power output on these days is consistently over 500 MW out of a total installed capacity of 6195.3 MW. Furthermore, by introducing financial incentives associated with reliable, baseload supply, we provide an economic assessment of the tidal power plant system. The daily minimum cumulative power output determines income in the modelled idealised baseload market, while excess supply is traded in an hourly variable wholesale energy market. Results indicate that subsidies would be required in order to make a pursuit of continuous generation financially advantageous over energy maximisation strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:49:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-12899265c91a4573b9ac9aede8cf46ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1312 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:49:23Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-12899265c91a4573b9ac9aede8cf46ef2023-11-20T16:10:00ZengMDPI AGJournal of Marine Science and Engineering2077-13122020-10-0181078010.3390/jmse8100780The Potential for Tidal Range Energy Systems to Provide Continuous Power: A UK Case StudyLucas Mackie0Daniel Coles1Matthew Piggott2Athanasios Angeloudis3Department of Earth Science & Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UKSchool of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UKDepartment of Earth Science & Engineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UKSchool of Engineering, Institute for Infrastructure & the Environment, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UKThe extraction of tidal energy from head differences represents a predictable and flexible option for generating electricity. Here, we investigate the generation potential of prospective tidal power plants in the UK. Originally conceived as separate projects, operating these schemes as a cooperative system could prove beneficial. Combined with the inherent operational flexibility of tidal range-based schemes, a notable tidal phase difference in selected sites allows for the system to spread power generation over a larger proportion of the day. Using depth-averaged modelling and gradient-based optimisation techniques, we explore how a flexible cumulative operation schedule could be applied to provide a degree of continuous supply if desirable. While fully continuous operation is not achieved, a number of different optimisation schedules deliver cumulative continuous supply for over half of the year. The average minimum cumulative power output on these days is consistently over 500 MW out of a total installed capacity of 6195.3 MW. Furthermore, by introducing financial incentives associated with reliable, baseload supply, we provide an economic assessment of the tidal power plant system. The daily minimum cumulative power output determines income in the modelled idealised baseload market, while excess supply is traded in an hourly variable wholesale energy market. Results indicate that subsidies would be required in order to make a pursuit of continuous generation financially advantageous over energy maximisation strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/10/780tidal range energyresource variabilityenergy extractionoptimisationbaseload demandflexible operation |
| spellingShingle | Lucas Mackie Daniel Coles Matthew Piggott Athanasios Angeloudis The Potential for Tidal Range Energy Systems to Provide Continuous Power: A UK Case Study Journal of Marine Science and Engineering tidal range energy resource variability energy extraction optimisation baseload demand flexible operation |
| title | The Potential for Tidal Range Energy Systems to Provide Continuous Power: A UK Case Study |
| title_full | The Potential for Tidal Range Energy Systems to Provide Continuous Power: A UK Case Study |
| title_fullStr | The Potential for Tidal Range Energy Systems to Provide Continuous Power: A UK Case Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Potential for Tidal Range Energy Systems to Provide Continuous Power: A UK Case Study |
| title_short | The Potential for Tidal Range Energy Systems to Provide Continuous Power: A UK Case Study |
| title_sort | potential for tidal range energy systems to provide continuous power a uk case study |
| topic | tidal range energy resource variability energy extraction optimisation baseload demand flexible operation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/8/10/780 |
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