Numerical model evaluation of tidal stream energy resources in the Ría de Muros (NW Spain)

R. Carballo, G. Iglesias and A. Castro

Renewable Energy, 2009, vol. 34, issue 6, 1517-1524

Abstract: The Ría de Muros is a large coastal embayment on the north-western coast of Spain in which the peak tidal currents exceed 2m/s. It is therefore a promising site for tidal stream power. The key point when assessing this resource is the accurate estimation of the tidal currents. In this work a finite difference numerical model is used for this purpose. The model solves the vertically integrated Navier–Stokes hydrodynamics and transport equations. It is validated with in situ velocity measurements performed by means of an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP). Thereafter the tidal flow velocities and the corresponding power densities are computed. The largest values are found in a section of the inner ria, in which two points are selected for a detailed assessment of the resource. The model is then run to compute the tidal stream and the corresponding power density at these points during a 14-day period, so as to cover the spring–neap cycle. The power density curve thus obtained is numerically integrated to compute the annual energy output that can be obtained by a tidal stream power plant at each location.

Keywords: Tidal power; Ría de Muros; Numerical model; Tidal stream energy; Flow measurement; Acoustic Doppler current profiler (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (65)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148108004011
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:34:y:2009:i:6:p:1517-1524

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2008.10.028

Access Statistics for this article

Renewable Energy is currently edited by Soteris A. Kalogirou and Paul Christodoulides

More articles in Renewable Energy from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().