The UK’s tidal energy resources are to be modelled by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) in a project that is aimed at improving understanding of the possible interactions between tidal energy extraction systems as they are deployed between now and 2050.
The £450,000 Tidal Modelling Project running until the end of 2012 will be led by consulting, engineering and construction company Black & Veatch supported by hydrodynamic modelling specialists HR Wallingford and the University of Edinburgh. The work will be carried out in Redhill, Surrey, Wallingford, Oxfordshire and Edinburgh.
It will develop models of the whole UK Continental Shelf that will be used to investigate how energy extraction at one site may affect the energy available elsewhere. A wide range of possible future tidal stream and tidal range sites, with differing technology possibilities will be represented in the models.
The project will identify how the interactions between different sites around the UK combine to form an overall effect, and what constraints these interactions will place on the design, development and location of future systems.
At the end of the project the models will be made available through a service provided by HR Wallingford to the wider marine industry to help inform future plans and strategies.
Dr David Clarke, chief executive of the ETI said: “This project will significantly increase the understanding of the effects of different interacting tidal energy schemes in UK waters giving the marine industry the evidence and knowledge it needs to make future investment decisions.”
The ETI has invested £133m in 35 projects across eight programme areas, including £24m in its marine programme, since it was formed in 2008.
