How tidal range electricity generation can protect coastal areas

How tidal range electricity generation can protect coastal areas

2024-01-11 23:29:21

Tidal range schemes can protect estuaries and coastal areas from the effects of sea level rise according to a new study by Lancaster researchers.

How tidal range electricity generation can protect coastal areas
The sea and impoundment levels for the base case installation with 1.2 m of SLR. The truncated tops of the scenario curves show that pre-SLR high tide limits are easily achieved by simply closing sluices and stopping generation or pumping when the existing high tide level is attained. Pumping is necessary to achieve the pre-SLR low tide levels. At neap tides, there is little or no difference between the efficient C-by-C operating mode and the FL mode, which means there is no cost to achieve existing low tide levels. At spring tides, the FL mode starts ebb generation slightly earlier than the C-by-C mode and the rate of discharge and turbine speed is slightly greater. The amount of pumping required at low tide is similar, but the FL mode starts earlier. The FL mode achieves the required current MLWS levels with an additional reduction of 1% of the AEP. Spring low tide inside the impoundment lags the natural tide by 2 h 36 min for C-by-C and 2 h 0 min for FL modes. Credit: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Energy (2023). DOI: 10.1680/jener.23.00031

Tidal range schemes can protect estuaries and coastal areas from the effects of sea level rise according to a new study by Lancaster researchers.

David Vandercruyssen, Simon Baker, David Howard, and George Aggidis from the School of Engineering say that tidal range schemes are vital to protect habitats, housing, and businesses from a estimated to be over one meter within 80 years.

Postgraduate researcher David Vandercruyssen said, "High tides can be limited to existing levels simply by closing sluices and turbines and existing low tide levels can be maintained by pumping."

Professor George Aggidis, Head of Energy Engineering, said, "Development of estuarine barrages has been hampered by misconceptions about their operation and fears of disturbance of the ecologically sensitive intertidal areas."

"Our studies show that with and operating procedures, estuarine barrages are the only practical way to protect these vital habitats. Coastal lagoons have also been proposed for several locations around Britain's coast. Schemes will provide jobs in construction and manufacturing for generations to come as well as opportunities for transport, communication, conservation and recreation. In the long-term, they will provide reliable power with reduced costs."

Their research, published in Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Energy, follows on from earlier Lancaster University research into a combined tidal range electricity generation and cost model demonstrating the viability of tidal range energy in the UK. This showed how it is possible to maintain the full tidal range within existing dams or weirs.

Professor Aggidis said, "Great Britain has the second largest tidal range in the world, and major barrages have been considered since Victorian times. Globally, two large-scale schemes are currently in operation, La Rance in France, completed in 1967, and Lake Sihwa in South Korea in 2011; both schemes generate significant quantities of cheap, sustainable electricity."

More information: David Vandercruyssen et al, Tidal range electricity generation into the twenty-second century, Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers—Energy (2023). DOI: 10.1680/jener.23.00031

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