Optimal array design for low tidal resource regions MSc Offshore and Dredging Engineering

Abstract

Tidal energy has the potential to be an important and necessary addition to the available sources of energy in the coming energy transition. While there is an extensive body of research on the topic of high tidal resource locations, little research exists on low tidal resource locations such as The Netherlands. The thesis aims to reduce this gap by designing the optimal Dutch tidal farm and determining its economic viability. Using Delft 3D and Telemac, 2D models are created to simulate the tidal resources based on shallow water equations. The models are used to determine the best location for the Dutch tidal stream farm through a multi-criteria decision making analysis using the analytic hierarchy process model. For the optimal location, a tidal cycle is extracted from delft dashboard data and the optimal configuration is designed. In the design stage of a tidal farm in low current velocities, the simulation shows the wake effect positively influences the production. The power production of such a tidal farm over a tidal cycle is calculated using various economic metrics. The results show that currently a tidal farm cannot be economically viable without substantial governmental support. However, this paper argues that tidal energy comes with a number of important benefits that cannot be neglected, such as sustainability, output consistency/predictability and potential future energy independency.
Therefore, tidal farms in low resource areas show potential, but further technological-, economical-, and (geo) political developments are needed in the coming years for them to become sufficiently beneficial in the Dutch energy transition to a sustainable energy mix.