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Tidal Energy

Tidal Energy. Introduction. Tides and tidal energy How can we capture it? Why would we want to? Where is the market today? Why is the UK the world-leader? Where are the challenges? What is the opportunity?. Tides 101 . Rising and falling of the ocean’s surface

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Tidal Energy

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  1. Tidal Energy

  2. Introduction • Tides and tidal energy • How can we capture it? • Why would we want to? • Where is the market today? • Why is the UK the world-leader? • Where are the challenges? • What is the opportunity?

  3. Tides 101 • Rising and falling of the ocean’s surface • Caused by gravitational effect of moon and sun on the seas • Highly predictable (28-day cycle).

  4. E = ½ mv2 and all that… • Tides cause significant volumes of water to flow around the world. • The moving body of water contains energy. • Power of the water is proportional to (current speed)3. • But, good tidal spots can be a little rough…

  5. How much energy? Where? • Raw, incoming tide from Atlantic: • 250 GW average • 2190 TWh / yr • Total UK electricity consumption: • 400 TWh / yr • “Hot Spots” not near centres of population or grid infrastructure. 60 GW 190 GW

  6. But we can hardly dam the (whole) North Sea… • 1.6 mile wide / 40m deep channel • Average power through channel: • 350MW • i.e. domestic electricity consumption of Glasgow.

  7. You keep saying “Average…”

  8. Comparison: Wind Farm

  9. Recap • The resource is: • Large • Free • Predictable • But: • Varies with time • In the wrong place

  10. So, how can we capture it? • Romans used tide mills in London. • Historically, c. 750 mills installed around the Atlantic • Better ways of milling flour now exist…

  11. Tidal Barrage (Tidal Range) • First, dam an estuary… • Principle: • Tide allowed to flow through barrage into estuary pool • Barrage closes, water held in pool until tide falls • Water released through turbines to generate power. • Severn barrage under feasibility study • Led by Ed Milliband • 5 options at public consultation • Reports end 2009. La Rance, 1966

  12. Tidal Stream • Find a good location • Fast-flowing • Close to shore • Close to grid • Good seabed conditions • Not too exposed… • Put a “farm” of underwater windmills there.

  13. Current Approaches

  14. £1M £20-40M £100M+ 3-10yrs ~3 yrs ~3 yrs Basic Technology Development Full Scale Prototype Commercial Array Hammerfest Strom OpenHydro Marine Current Turbines Typical Development Process • Over 100 active device developers • All pre-revenue technology development companies • Usually single-product

  15. The UK Top 20 Commercial Machines Large Prototypes Modelling & Tank Testing Basic Science

  16. The Way Forwards • JVs emerging to develop first projects • Technology Developer + Utility

  17. UK Support Mechanisms • Revenue Support through the Renewables Obligation • 2 ROCs / MWh (England & Wales) • 3 ROCs / MWh (Scotland) • Targeted Revenue Support • Marine Renewables Deployment Fund • Saltire Prize • Capital Support • Marine Renewables Proving Fund • Energy Technologies Institute

  18. UK Support Mechanisms

  19. Current Hot Topics • First commercial projects underway • Islay Array (Scottish Power / Hammerfest Strom UK) • Anglesey Array (NPower Renewables / MCT) • Internationalisation • OpenHydro: - Canadian projects • Lunar: - 500MW Korean farm. • Policy & Infrastructure • Crown Estates Leasing Process • Grid Issues • OFTO

  20. The Pentland Firth Process • Crown Estates Process • Marine spatial planning exercise • 700MW of renewable power from Pentland Firth by 2020 • Closed 15 May 09 • 42 applications received • Projects 10MW-300MW

  21. Grid Reinforcement • National Grid: • Connects few power stations to many consumers • New Paradigm • Generation at grid extremities • Major upgrade projects • Beauly – Denny rebuild • Dounreay – Beauly upgrade

  22. Taking the Grid Offshore Energy Act (2004) • Licence needed to operate offshore transmission network • Offshore Transmission Owners (OFTOs) introduced: • Own the “Offshore grid.” • Appointed by Ofgem • Tendering process triggered by tidal developer applying for grid connection. • Remuneration from “locational” (tidal developer) & “non-locational” (other users). • First OFTO tender process April 09 (offshore wind farms) • Developers watching with interest

  23. Conclusions • Tidal energy promising, but developmental • 25-50% of European tidal stream resource in UK waters • UK will see world’s first commercial projects • High on political agenda • Especially Scotland • Sustained support needed to retain impetus in UK. • Rapidly changing industry: • Impact of OFTO? • Impact of grid upgrades? • Will it work?

  24. Ian Watson +44 (0)1306 885050 i.watson@fnc.co.uk www.fnc.co.uk/renewables

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