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UK studies on the wider energy system benefits of tidal stream
A recent collaboration with researchers from Imperial College London, the University of Plymouth and the ORE Catapult led to a recent communication in RSC’s Energy Advances. The study contributes to the future of tidal stream technologies, and the level of Levelised Cost of Energy (LCoE) that should be achieved to render it as a competitive energy technology within the UK’s energy grid.
Physical Modelling of Tidal Stream Turbine Wake Structures under Yaw Conditions
A recent collaboration with researchers from Imperial College London and Hohai University, China led by Can Zhang documents in a recent article in Energies results on the wake evolution of tidal energy devices. These experiments were conducted at the University of Hohai, where we can observe some key wake interaction effects with downstream turbines
Temporal complementarity of marine renewables with wind and solar generation: Implications for GB system benefits
Recent work on complementarity of marine renewables with other renewables published in Applied Energy. The study, led by Dr Shona Pennock of Edinburgh’s Policy and Innovation Group made use our regional hydrodynamic modelling around UK Waters, in collaboration with Danny Coles of the University of Plymouth and US’s PNNL.
Sedimentological data-driven bottom friction parameter estimation in modelling Bristol Channel tidal dynamics
Recent work on parameter estimation for the calibration of estuarine models on macro-tidal environments has been published in Ocean Dynamics. The study, led by Dr Simon Warder of Imperial College London outlines the approach we followed for a set of parameter estimation experiments.
Tidal Range Energy
A chapter summarising the opportunities and challenges of tidal range energy is presented within the Second Edition of Comprehensive Renewable Energy.
Combining shallow-water and analytical wake models for tidal array micro-siting
Our recent work, led by the recent civil engineering graduate Connor Jordan takes on the challenging problem of tidal array layout optimisaton using shallow-water equation and analytical wake models for tidal stream energy is now available within the Journal of Ocean Engineering and Marine Energy. The study considers a hierarchy of simplified, all the way to practical cases, demonstrating the versatility of our optimisation methodology.
Interactions between tidal stream turbine arrays and their hydrodynamic impact around Zhoushan Island, China
A new study based on the PhD research of Can Zhang on tidal stream turbines is now available in Elsevier’s Ocean Engineering journal. The study investigates the cumulative impacts of tidal stream turbine arrays that are located in relatively close proximity, whilst showcasing the adjoint optimisation capability that has been developed at the Department of Earth Science and Engineering of Imperial College London.
Assessing impacts of tidal power lagoons of a consistent design
A recent study based on the PhD research of Lucas Mackie has been published in Elsevier’s Ocean Engineering journal. The study highlights the need for consistency in the assessment of tidal range structures in order to provide a comparative insight for prospective developments. Schemes should be assessed in terms of their localised effect, as the regional morphology will play a varying role. For example, designs in the Irish Sea are less disruptive to the regional dynamics compared to the more constrained Severn Estuary.
A review of the UK and British Channel Islands practical tidal stream energy resource
A recent collaboration with researchers across the UK has resulted in a recent article that is published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society A. The study was led by Danny Coles of the University of Plymouth. The study has contributed to the overall discussion about the potential of tidal stream energy, and has already been discussed within the House of Commons, promoting measures to support the tidal energy industry.
Medium-term variability of the UK’s combined tidal energy resource for a net-zero carbon grid
Our operational modelling for tidal range schemes was applied in a recent review towards understanding the value of tidal energy developments towards a net-zero carbon grid. The study, led by Dr Grazia Todeschini published in Energy, was conducted in collaboration with Swansea, Plymouth and Bangor universities.
Satellite data for the offshore renewable energy sector: Synergies and innovation opportunities
Our input regarding the use of satellite data for marine energy schemes has been used in a recent review on the use of satellite data for offshore renewable energy. The study, led by Dr Encarni Medina-Lopez and published in Remote Sensing of the Environment, was conducted in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde and other institutions as part of the ORE Supergen Flexi-fund project SCORE.
Research contributions at MARINE 2021
- 03 June 2021
- Edinburgh
- en
- conference
Recent progress on our research was presented by Lucas Mackie and Joe Wallwork at MARINE 2021, demonstrating our recent insight on the assessment of tidal range schemes, and the use of mesh-adaptive methods on characterising the output of turbines in tidal stream arrays.
Tidal Stream vs. Wind Energy: The Value of Cyclic Power when Combined with Short-Term Storage in Hybrid Systems
A new study in Energies led by Dr Danny Coles (University of Plymouth) demonstrates attributes of tidal energy that are attractive when combined with battery storage. The predictability of tidal energy is shown to deliver remarkable advantages towards efforts to reduce reliance to fossil fuel alternatives. This work has been an outcome of a collaboration including Zoe Goss of Imperial College London and Dr Jon Miles of the University of Plymouth
Research contributions at IAHR 2020
- 17 February 2021
- Edinburgh
- en
- conference
Recent progress on our research was presented by Lucas Mackie and Anastasia Fragkou at IAHR 2020, demonstrating our recent insight on the calibration of coastal ocean models, and the simulation of 3-D processes associated with plumes from desalination plants.
Tidal range resource of Australia
Our tidal range energy operational modelling has been applied to assess the available tidal range energy resource around Australia. The study, led by Prof Simon Neill and published in Renewable Energy, was conducted in collaboration with the Bangor School of Ocean Sciences, and the Oceans and Atmpsphere Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation at Hobart in Australia.
Evaluating the eutrophication risk of an artificial tidal lagoon
A new study in the Ocean & Coastal Management journal documents results from our simple approach on evaluating the eutrophication risk of an artificial tidal lagoon. The work was led by Dr Margaret Kadiri and Holly Zhang of King’s College London, in collaboration with Prof Matthew Piggott from Imperial College London.
Modelling an energetic tidal strait: investigating implications of common numerical configuration choices
Our latest study for 2021 published in the Applied Ocean Research journal documents our recent work on the calibration of coastal ocean models for tidal energy sites. The work was led by Lucas Mackie, in collaboration with Prof Matthew Piggott from Imperial College London, Dr Paul Evans from Intertek Energy & Water, Dr Magnus Harrold from the ORE Catapult and Prof Tim O’Doherty from Cardiff University. The study uses observed data from the Ramsey Sound in Wales and we are examining how well a depth-averaged model can reproduce the conditions, before dismissing results on the grounds of 3-D limitations.
Hydro-morphodynamics 2D modelling using a discontinuous Galerkin discretisation
In a recent article appearing in the January 2021 issue of Computers & Geosciences, we document recent developments on an unstructured DG Finite Element Model implemented within the Firedrake code generation framework. This work stems from the MRes and PhD of Mariana Clare who is working on hydro-sediment-morphodynamics applications supported by the Mathematics of Planet Earth CDT.
The potential for tidal range energy systems to provide continuous power: a UK case study
A study published in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering on our recent work on the operation capabilities of tidal range energy systems. The work was led by Lucas Mackie, in collaboration with Daniel Coles from Plymouth University and Matthew Piggott from Imperial College London. The study refines our tidal power plant optimisation framework to consider multiple schemes cooperating to maximise the value of the overall tidal range system. The study highlights the potential but also the limitations of the technology due to the nature of the resource
Modelling the impact of tidal range energy on species communities
A study published in Ocean & Coastal Management expands on our recent ecohydraulics applications. The work was conducted jointly with researchers led by Dr Jon Hill from the University of York. The study employs our estuarine modelling to extract information that can be correlated with the behavior of sensitive marine species. A machine learning technique (MaxEnt) is in turn applied to predict changes in their habitat distribution.
On the potential of linked-basin tidal power plants: An operational and coastal modelling assessment
Our recent work on the operational modelling and the optimisation of linked-basin tidal energy systems has now been published in Renewable Energy. The work was a result of a joint effort with researchers of the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London.
Tidal range energy resource assessment of the Gulf of California, Mexico
Our tidal range energy modelling has been applied to assess the available tidal range energy resource in the Gulf of California. The study, published in Renewable Energy, was conducted in collaboration with the National Oceanographic Centre, and the Bangor School of Ocean Sciences.
Tidal energy research conference contributions at EWTEC 2019
- 20 September 2019
- Edinburgh
- en
- conference
Recent progress on tidal range energy income optimisation was presented by Lucas Mackie at EWTEC 2019, demonstrating interesting interactions amongst tidal power plants, as detailed in the conference paper. Lucas also presented a poster on his research regarding the optimisation of tidal range power plant operation. It was presented at the University of Oxford’s Tidal Energy Workshop.
Tidal range structure operation assessment and optimisation
A publication is now available on the assessment of tidal range structure operations at Dams and Reservoirs. It highlights that operation optimisation using simplified models is mostly accurate for small schemes, as the larger impact on tidal dynamics invalidates simplified model assumptions.
Utilising the flexible generation potential of tidal range power plants to optimise economic value
A paper has been published in Applied Energy on the MSc research study of Freddie Harcourt on the flexibility of tidal range power plant operation. It presents recent insights on how this inherent flexibility on generation times could be used to negotiate more attractive subsidy deals and complement other sustainable energy options (e.g. onshore and offshore wind energy).
Tidal range energy research challenges - Energy Futures Lab 2018
I presented research updates and an overview of tidal engineering research challenges at the Energy Futures Lab . A blog post regarding the theme of the talk can be found here.
Tidal energy conference contributions in RENEW2018
Research together with colleagues from Imperial College was presented at the biennial Conference on Renewable Energies Offshore in Lisbon (RENEW 2018). Zoe Goss presented her progress on tidal stream energy in Alderney race and I gave a talk on the feasibility and characteristics of twin-basin lagoons.
Fate of large scale vortices in idealised tidal lagoons
Our paper on tidal lagoon vortices with Carolanne Vouriot, Stephan Kramer and Matt Piggott reports on some insights about the evolution of shallow water vortices and how these are affected by friction, bathymetry and coastal bathymetry. The paper is open access funded by NERC and EPSRC and is accessible at Environmental Fluid Mechanics.
Tidal range energy resource and optimization–Past perspectives and future challenges
A review article on the tidal range energy status quo with regards to the available resource, existing and prospective designs. The study contains input from experts across the UK, with our contribution focusing on the hydrodynamic assessment of tidal range schemes. The work was motivated by a workshop at the School of Ocean Sciences of Bangor University.
Optimising tidal range power plant operation
In a study published in Applied Energy, we document a method to optimise the operation of tidal range structures. Our model uses gradient-based optimisation algorithms to deliver a superior operation strategy for tidal range structures. The optimisation demonstrates significant opportunities to extract more energy from individual tidal cycles.