5 Examples of Tidal Energy Projects and Applications
Examples of tidal energy projects and applications are; LaRance Tidal Power Station (France), Woodbridge Tide Mill (Suffolk, England), Hybrid Tidal Energy System (Zhejiang, China), O2 Tidal System For Grid Transmission (Scotland), and Tidal-Powered Deep Sea Container Terminal (United Kingdom).
This article discusses examples of tidal energy projects and applications, as follows;
1). LaRance Tidal Power Station, France (as one of the Examples of Tidal Energy Projects/Applications)
The world's first tidal power station is La Rance Tidal Power Station, which was built in Brittany, France, and commissioned in 1966 [6].
It is the oldest, and was for several decades the largest tidal power plant in the world, thriving on a large-scale resilient design and abundant availability of regional tidal energy.
The largest tidal range in France occurs also in Brittany, where hydrological level differences can reach as high as 12 meters. This enables the La Rance Tidal Power Plant to operate at a capacity of 240 MW [4] and an electricity output of more than 500 GWh per annum (value is estimated to fall between 550 and 600 GWh).
La Rance Power Station cost about €94.5 million to be put into initial operation; and this includes the cost of planning, design, materials and actual construction.
As a pioneer project, this facility is a classic example of tidal energy utilization in large-scale, and represents the outcome of intensive research, development and input from various fields and sectors [4].
2).Woodbridge Tide Mill in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England
The history of Woodbridge Tide Mill in Suffolk, England, dates back as far as the late eleventh century, or up to 900 years ago.
Wiodbridge is however not the oldest tidal mill in the world, as there have been older systems of similar design discovered in other areas, including Northern Ireland which plays host to a tidal mill up to 1,400 years old.
The uniqueness of Woodbridge Tide Mill lies in the fact that it is still in operational condition.
A tide mill works simply by capturing tidal energy using a rotary component (like a turbine) installed in active-tide zones, and converting this energy to mechanical form that is used for grinding purposes as the turbine rotates.
In addition to serving as an artifact of sorts, Woodbridge Tide Mill is another example of tidal energy applications, and exhibits the long history of relevance, of this type of renewable energy.
3). Hybrid Tidal Energy System, Zhejiang, China (as one of the Examples of Tidal Energy Projects/Applications)
A hybrid energy system is one which is designed to effectively harness more than one type of energy resource.
In the Zhejiang Province of eastern China, a hybrid tidal energy system became operation in May 2022.
The system is designed to harness both solar and tidal energies [9], and was built by combining an existent floating offshore photovoltaic plant (100 MW) to a a tidal energy system (4.1 MW) [2].
Hybrid systems provide an example of the flexibility of tidal energy development and utilization. Other concepts have also combined tidal energy with other energy forms, such as wind [7].
4). O2 Tidal System for Grid Transmission, Scotland
O2 Tidal System is a floating system based on high-power tidal turbine technology.
The O2 tidal turbine is the main component of this system, and it is located on the Scottish Orkney Island, where tidal processes are active [4].
O2 is one of the largest tidal turbines in the world, and has a capacity of 2MW. In 2021, it was integrated with the regional energy system, to transmit power to the grid.
The move shows both how flexible and effective tidal energy technology can be, toward electricity generation and supply [1].
5). Tidal-Powered Deep Sea Container Terminal (as one of the Examples of Tidal Energy Projects/Applications)
A scheme for the development of a tidal-powered deep sea container terminal was proposed in 2022 by Center Port Holdings, to be installed and operated across the Walsh in Anglia, England [8].
The scheme aims at making the terminal to be capable of handling between 1.5 million and 4 million containers (20-foot container or Twenty Equipment Unit; teu) annually. It also aims for the terminal to be able to supply electricity to thousands of homes within the region.
Conclusion
Examples of tidal energy projects and applications are;
1. LaRance Tidal Power Station, France
2. Woodbridge Tide Mill in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England
3. Hybrid Tidal Energy System, Zhejiang, China
4. O2 Tidal System For Grid Transmission, Scotland
5. Tidal-Powered Deep Sea Container Terminal
References
1). Al-Ameri, A.; Koita, A.; Payman, A.; Camara, M. B.; Dakyo, B. (2021). "EMR modelling of tidal turbines integrated into Orkney grid." Electric Power Systems Research 201(14):107548. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2021.107548. (Accessed 12 February 2023).
2). Bellini, E. (2022). "Floating solar, tidal energy plant goes online in China." Available at: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/05/31/floating-solar-tidal-energy-plant-goes-online-in-china/. (Accessed 12 February 2023).
3). Etemadi, A.; Emami, Y.; AsefAshar, O.; Emdadi, A. (2011). "Electricity Generation by the Tidal Barrages." Energy Procedia 12. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2011.10.122. (Accessed 12 February 2023).
4). Frangoul, A. (2021). "The world's most powerful tidal turbine just got a major funding boost." Available at: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/05/the-worlds-most-powerful-tidal-turbine-just-got-a-major-funding-boost.html. (Accessed 12 February 2023).
5). Frau, J. P. (1993). "Tidal energy: promising projects: La Rance, a successful industrial-scale experiment." in IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 552-558, Sept. 1993, Available at: https://doi.org/10.1109/60.257073. (Accessed 12 February 2023).
6). Neill, S. P.; Angeloudis, A.; Robins, P. E.; Walkington, I. A.; Ward, S. L.; Masters, I.; Lewsi, M.; Piano, M.; Avdis, A.; Piggott, M. D.; Aggidis, G. A.; Evans, P.; Adcock, T. A. A.; Zidonis, A.; Ahmadian, R.; Falconer, R. A. (2018). "Tidal range energy resource and optimization – Past perspectives and future challenges." Renewable Energy In Press. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2018.05.007. (Accessed 13 February 2023).
7). Rahman, M. L.; Oka, S.; Shirai, Y. (2010). "Hybrid Power Generation System Using Offshore-Wind Turbine and Tidal Turbine for Power Fluctuation Compensation (HOT-PC)." IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy 1(2)(2):92 - 98. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1109/TSTE.2010.2050347. (Accessed 12 February 2023).
8). Redford, C. (2022). "£2bn plans for world’s first tidal powered deep sea container terminal across The Wash." Available at: https://www.lincolnshireworld.com/news/environment/ps2bn-plans-for-worlds-first-tidal-powered-deep-sea-container-terminal-across-the-wash-3926938. (Accessed 13 February 2023).
9). Xun, L. (2022). "China's first solar-tidal photovoltaic power plant fully operational." Available at: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-05-30/China-s-first-solar-tidal-photovoltaic-power-plant-fully-operational-1asqPv0xC2k/index.html. (Accessed 12 February 2023).
