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Learn how tidal barrages and wave energy technologies work, their environmental impacts, economic aspects, and potential for global energy needs. Explore various methods, costs, and factors impacting these renewable energy sources. Discover the opportunities and challenges in harnessing tidal and wave power for sustainable energy generation.
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How it Works – Tidal Barrages • Tidal Barrages • Dam an estuary • As water flows out or in, a turbine is spun • Electricity is generated by the turbine
How it Works – Tidal Barrages from http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/EandE/Web_sites/01-02/RE_info/tidal1.htm)
How it Works - Wave Energy • Many experimental technologies • Example: Pelamis Project from http://www.worldenergy.org/wec-geis/publications/reports/ser/wave/wave.asp
How it Works - Wave Energy • Offshore Turbines • Have gearboxes, anchored by a monopile from http://www.marineturbines.com/technical.htm
How it Works - Wave Energy • Swanturbines • No gearboxes, anchored by concrete from http://www.swanturbines.co.uk
How it Works - Wave Energy from http://www.worldenergy.org/wec-geis/publications/reports/ser/wave/wave.asp
Environmental – Tidal Barrages • Under Construction – • Essentially the barrage is a dam • Stagnating water • Increase in pollutants • Given time, returns to normal
Environmental – Tidal Barrages • After Construction • Tidal height changed • Decrease in mud flats area during low tide • Unpredictable effect on bird migration (30-50%) • Outside high tide increase; excess flow • Turbidity decreases • Increase in phytoplankton • Unpredictable changes to food chain • Sediment gradient altered • Severn Estuary Solution
Environmental – Wave Energy • Blade Speed 10-20 rpm • Boat propeller up to 10x faster • Monopile/Concrete • Easily Avoided • Other Designs • Stationary, surface • Vortex • Unsure, expected to be avoided Image from: http://www.marineturbines.com/home.htm
Economic – Tidal Barrages • Historical Example – Rance Estuary • Cost about 530 Million Euros in today’s costs, not including inflation in mid 60’s • 240 MW output • Estimated energy cost (Not including startup) • 18 cents Euro / kW • Nuklear estimated similarly at 25/kW
Economic – Tidal Barrages • Severn Estuary • Estimated $12-16 million construction • About 3 Nuclear plants • 8640 MW Output • About 8 Nucler plants • Running costs about 1.5x Nuclear • Estimated lifespan – 120 years • Nuclear is about 60 • Alternate Design - Lifts
Economic – Wave Energy • MCT – About $16 million US • Plotted Velocities • 300 kW design • 1 MW design • Other Estimates • ‘Cheaper than tidal’ • ‘About the same as wind’
Conclusions • Wave Energy • More area for utilization • Promising research • Potential for higher than 10% of world need • Tidal Barrages • Widely varying environmental impact • Expensive, but long lasting • Very placement specific