Cumulative impact assessment of tidal stream energy extraction in the Irish Sea

OCEAN ENGINEERING

卷:137

Article

Haverson, David¹  Bacon, John¹  Smith, Helen C. M.²  Venugopal, Vengatesan³  Xiao, Qing⁴ 

[1] Ctr Environm Fisheries & Aquaculture Sci, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, Suffolk, England

[2] Univ Exeter, Coll Engn Math & Phys Sci, Falmouth TR10 9EZ, England

[3] Univ Edinburgh, Inst Energy Syst, Edinburgh EH9 3DW, Midlothian, Scotland

[4] Univ Strathclyde, Dept Naval Architecture, Glasgow G1 1XQ, Lanark, Scotland

关键词: Tidal energy;    Cumulative impact;    Numerical model;    Zone of influence;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.oceaneng.2017.04.003

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

A cumulative impact assessment of tidal stream developments in the Irish Sea has been conducted on a high resolution depth-averaged hydrodynamic model, using Telemac2D. Eight sites were investigated, representing the proposed developments at the time of study. These included: Ramsey Sound, Anglesey, Strangford Loch, Mull of Kintyre, Torr Head, Fair Head, Sound of Islay and West of Islay. Only three projects showed array-array interaction: Fair Head, Ton Head and Mull of Kintyre. A smaller model domain was created for further analysis. Results showed Mull of Kintyre had little impact. Fair Head reduced the energy production at Torr Head by 17%, whereas, Fair Head only reduced by 2%. This was caused by the tidal asymmetry whereby the flood was stronger. When operated concurrently, the maximum power-output at Ton Head is 64.5 MW, representing 31% reduction. If Torr Head can still operate commercially in the presence of Fair Head, then the additional environmental impact of Torr Head, such as the change in bed shear stress, is small. Within the Irish Sea, very few of the tidal projects investigated are geographically close to each other. As the industry develops, the risk of interaction to these sites will grow when more intermediary sites are developed.

【 授权许可】

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