The energy yield potential of a large tidal stream turbine array in the Alderney Race
The energy yield potential of a large tidal stream turbine array in the Alderney Race
This research provides an updated energy yield assessment for a large tidal stream turbine array in the Alderney Race. The original array energy yield estimate was presented in 2004. Enhancements to this original work are made through the use of a validated two-dimensional hydrodynamic model, enabling the resolution of flow modelling to be improved and the impacts of array blockage to be quantified. Results show that a range of turbine designs (i.e. rotor diameter and power capacity) are needed for large-scale development, given the spatial variation in bathymetry and flow across the Alderney Race. Array blockage causes a reduction in flow speeds in the array of up to 2.5 m s−1, increased flow speeds around the array of up to 1 m s−1 and a reduction in the mean volume flux through the Alderney Race of 8%. The annual energy yield estimate of the array is 3.18 TWh, equivalent to the electricity demand of around 1 million homes. The capacity factor of the array is 18%, implying sub-optimal array design. This result demonstrates the need for turbine rated speed to be selected based on the altered flow regime, not the ambient flow. Further enhancement to array performance is explored through increases to rotor diameter and changes to device micro-siting, demonstrating the significant potential for array performance improvement.
Alderney Race, array-scale blockage, energy yield, large array, tidal stream energy
Coles, D. S.
58e46bef-2a32-4b6e-b78b-7efede2a93ab
Blunden, L. S.
28b4a5d4-16f8-4396-825b-4f65639d2903
Bahaj, A. S.
a64074cc-2b6e-43df-adac-a8437e7f1b37
21 August 2020
Coles, D. S.
58e46bef-2a32-4b6e-b78b-7efede2a93ab
Blunden, L. S.
28b4a5d4-16f8-4396-825b-4f65639d2903
Bahaj, A. S.
a64074cc-2b6e-43df-adac-a8437e7f1b37
Coles, D. S., Blunden, L. S. and Bahaj, A. S.
(2020)
The energy yield potential of a large tidal stream turbine array in the Alderney Race.
Philosophical Transactions of The Royal Society A, 378 (2178).
(doi:10.1098/rsta.2019.0502).
Abstract
This research provides an updated energy yield assessment for a large tidal stream turbine array in the Alderney Race. The original array energy yield estimate was presented in 2004. Enhancements to this original work are made through the use of a validated two-dimensional hydrodynamic model, enabling the resolution of flow modelling to be improved and the impacts of array blockage to be quantified. Results show that a range of turbine designs (i.e. rotor diameter and power capacity) are needed for large-scale development, given the spatial variation in bathymetry and flow across the Alderney Race. Array blockage causes a reduction in flow speeds in the array of up to 2.5 m s−1, increased flow speeds around the array of up to 1 m s−1 and a reduction in the mean volume flux through the Alderney Race of 8%. The annual energy yield estimate of the array is 3.18 TWh, equivalent to the electricity demand of around 1 million homes. The capacity factor of the array is 18%, implying sub-optimal array design. This result demonstrates the need for turbine rated speed to be selected based on the altered flow regime, not the ambient flow. Further enhancement to array performance is explored through increases to rotor diameter and changes to device micro-siting, demonstrating the significant potential for array performance improvement.
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coles_blunden_bahaj_RSTA_2020_pre_print
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Accepted/In Press date: 28 April 2020
Published date: 21 August 2020
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
validation of the English Channel hydrodynamic model and provided input to the analysis of model results and drafting the manuscript. A.S.B. assisted in drafting the manuscript and supervising the research. Competing interests. We declare we have no competing interests. Funding. This work is supported by grants including the International Centre for Infrastructure Futures (ICIF) (grant no. EP/K012347/1), British Council UK Newton Fund (NF) Institutional Links (grant no. 261850721) and Fortis Unum: Clustering Mini-Grid Networks to Widen Energy Access and Enhance Utility Network Resilience (grant no. EP/R030391/1). Acknowledgements. This work is part of the activities of the Energy and Climate Change Division and the Sustainable Energy Research Group in the Faculty of Engineering and Environment at the University of Southampton (www.energy.soton.ac.uk), UK.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Author(s).
Keywords:
Alderney Race, array-scale blockage, energy yield, large array, tidal stream energy
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 443654
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/443654
ISSN: 1364-503X
PURE UUID: 67950257-b615-4a04-b645-ea58c131b27a
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Date deposited: 07 Sep 2020 16:31
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 03:20
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Author:
D. S. Coles
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