Tidal Energy in Nova Scotia, Canada: The Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) Perspective

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas J. Keefe ◽  
Joseph Kozak
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Power Systems ◽  
Tidal Energy ◽  
Test Site ◽  
The United States ◽  
Research Center ◽  
Ocean Energy ◽  
Overhead Transmission Line ◽  
Marine Energy ◽  
Marine Current

Ocean energy developments are appearing around the world including Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Norway, France Portugal, Spain, India, the United States, Canada and others. North America’s first tidal energy demonstration facility is in the Minas Passage of the Bay of Fundy, near Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE) is a non-profit institute that owns and operates the facility that offers developers, regulators, scientists and academics the opportunity to study the performance and interaction of instream tidal energy converters (usually referred to as TISECs but called “turbines” in this paper.) with one of the world’s most aggressive tidal regimes. FORCE provides a shared observation facility, submarine cables, grid connection, and environmental monitoring at its pre-approved test site. The site is well suited to testing, with water depths up to 45 meters at low tide, a sediment -free bedrock sea floor, straight flowing currents, and water speeds up to 5 meters per second (approximately 10 knots). FORCE will install 10.896km of double armored, 34.5kV submarine cable — one for each of its four berths. Electricity from the berths will be conditioned at FORCE’s own substation and delivered to the Provincial power grid by a 10 km overhead transmission line. There are four berth holders at present: Alstom Hydro Canada using Clean Current Power Systems Technology (Canada); Minas Basin Pulp and Power Co. Ltd. with technology partner Marine Current Turbines (UK); Nova Scotia Power Inc. with technology partner OpenHydro (Ireland) and Atlantis Resources Corporation, in partnership with Lockheed Martin and Irving Shipbuilding. In November 2009, NSPI with technology partner OpenHydro deployed the first commercial scale turbine at the FORCE site. The 1MW rated turbine was secured by a 400-tonne subsea gravity base fabricated in Nova Scotia. The intent of this paper is to provide an overview of FORCE to the international marine energy community during OMAE 2011 taking place in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Global Review of Recent Ocean Energy Activities

2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 97-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Brito Melo ◽  
Eoin Sweeney ◽  
Jose Luis Villate
Keyword(s):  
Wind Energy ◽  
Energy Resource ◽  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Ocean Energy ◽  
Intergovernmental Organization ◽  
Marine Energy ◽  
Marine Current ◽  
Technology Convergence ◽  
Set Up

AbstractOcean energy is regarded as an important future source of energy generation in many countries for transition to a low-carbon future. While commercial interest in ocean energy is growing significantly at a global level, there are considerable investment costs and bottlenecks that will need to be overcome. Research and funds are spread over many different wave and marine current energy concepts under development, and there is still no technology convergence, in contrast to what happened in wind energy. Although an important marine energy resource, discussion of offshore wind energy is not included in this manuscript. This article focuses on the latest developments in ocean energy—in particular, open-sea testing facilities set up by several countries as a measure to encourage deployment and streamlining procedures—and gives an overview of projects going into the water this past year. In addition, the article highlights the importance of collaborative research and development on ocean energy projects and the unique role of the Ocean Energy Systems Implementing Agreement as an intergovernmental organization promoting the use of ocean energy (wave, marine currents, tidal, ocean thermal gradients and salinity gradients) for energy extraction.

Simplicity Design of Hybrid Energy of Marine Current and Offshore Wind Energy Plant in Indonesia

2016 ◽  
Vol 836 ◽  
pp. 283-288
Author(s):  
Mahmud Mustain ◽  
A. Suroso
Keyword(s):  
Offshore Wind ◽  
Ocean Energy ◽  
Literature Study ◽  
Hybrid Energy ◽  
Potential Site ◽  
Marine Energy ◽  
Oil Resources ◽  
Energy Plant ◽  
Marine Current ◽  
The Government

Indonesia as a maritime country, its territory consists of 2/3 part of ocean waters and over than 17.000 islands spreading all the country. The waters consist of huge ocean energy which can be converted into others useful energy. The government had developed of a policy of energy diversification for increasing of the use of energy alternative. The policy is to anticipate the depletion of fuel energy where the oil resources estimated will be depleted around next 20 years. The authors selected marine current and offshore wind as the alternatives energy from the ocean.The paper begins to introduce the potential site of the marine current throughout the Indonesia sea waters. Then the paper reviews of the development of marine energy conversion system. Selecting the type of offshore platform and the marine turbine is given to choose the type which is applicable in the potential site. Having the selected type, the paper is trying to discus for combining of two types of energies (marine current and offshore wind) on one unit of platform. The design of the platform supporting of two energies is presented to the end of the paper. The paper was entirely constructed based on literature study.

Life cycle comparison of a wave and tidal energy device

2011 ◽  
Vol 225 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-337 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Walker ◽  
R Howell
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Wave Energy ◽  
Tidal Energy ◽  
Development Stage ◽  
Payback Period ◽  
Energy Device ◽  
Energy Mix ◽  
Energy Devices ◽  
Marine Energy ◽  
Marine Current

Tidal and wave energy devices are often discussed as a future contributor to the UK’s energy mix. Indeed, marine energy resources are said to have the potential to supply up to 20 per cent of the nation’s electricity demand. However, these technologies are currently at the development stage and make no meaningful contribution to the national grid. A number of devices have been developed, but no single method has emerged as the leading technology. This paper aims to compare two promising devices, one wave device and one tidal device, and assess the life cycle properties of each. A life cycle assessment of the Oyster wave energy device was conducted as part of this study, and a comparison of this and the SeaGen marine current turbine was undertaken. In both cases a ‘cradle-to-grave’ assessment was carried out, calculating emissions from materials, fabrication, transport, installation, lifetime maintenance, and decommissioning (including recycling). The SeaGen tidal device was calculated to have an energy payback period of 14 months, and a CO2 payback period of 8 months. The equivalent figures for the Oyster device were 12 and 8 months, respectively. The respective energy and carbon intensities for the two devices were 214 kJ/kWh and 15 gCO2/kWh for the SeaGen and 236 kJ/kWh and 25 gCO2/kWh for the Oyster. The calculated intensities and payback periods are close to those of established wind turbine technologies, and low relative to the 400–1000 g CO2/kWh of typical fossil fuel generation. With further developments in construction and deployment efficiency these intensities are expected to fall, so the devices appear to have the potential to offer a viable contribution to the UK’s future energy mix.

EquiMar: The Development of Protocols for the Equitable Evaluation of Marine Energy Systems

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
George H. Smith ◽  
Claudio Bittencourt ◽  
David Ingram
Keyword(s):  
Energy Systems ◽  
Economic Assessment ◽  
Tidal Energy ◽  
Resource Assessment ◽  
International Standards ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Ocean Energy ◽  
Playing Field ◽  
Marine Energy ◽  
High Level

This paper describes a major collaborative project funded through the European Union which seeks to accelerate the adoption of ocean energy systems through providing a rational suite of protocols that will: (i) help to match technology and scale of deployment to site specific considerations; (ii) define acceptable methodologies to evaluate the environmental consequence of deployment; (iii) develop techniques for equitable comparison of the economic potential; for the deployment of small to medium arrays. EquiMar involves 23 European partners, including scientists, engineers, ecologists and developers. Funded through the European Commission 7th Framework Programme [1] (grant agreement 213380), this €5.5 million project aims to produce a suite of protocols that will enable a broad range of stakeholders to judge the variety of technologies in wave and tidal energy on a level playing field. The protocols will reflect the entire development cycle of a marine device: resource assessment and site selection; fundamental engineering design; scaling up and deployment; environmental impact and economic assessment. The project has now been running for 12 months. This paper reviews the intended work over the three year project, but focuses on the development of “high level” documents that will describe the aims and remit of the individual protocols. The high level protocols were conceived to meet two fundamental requirements. EquiMar is an ambitious project in terms of both scope and number of collaborators. There is a need to maintain consistency and clarity as each protocol/ guideline is developed. The high level protocols will serve as a template for the detailed specifications, clarifying content, identifying gaps and links within the overall work and finally will help to maintain focus on the final goals. Externally the high level documents will provide a mechanism for engagement of the many stakeholders. Early feedback on the direction and coverage of the protocols is fundamental to achieving, where practica, a consensus from the diverse ocean energy community. Based on the practices of an international Certifying Agency (DNV) it is intended that the protocols will be fit for guidance and incorporation into proposed international standards. This paper aims to increase dissemination and provoke comment from the International marine community in order that that the final documents will be fit for purpose by reflecting the considered opinion of as wide a body of relevant contributors as is possible, and act as a catalyst to help deliver the potential for marine renewable energy on the international stage.

scholarly journals On the Variation of Turbulence in a High-Velocity Tidal Channel

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Greenwood ◽  
Arne Vogler ◽  
Vengatesan Venugopal
Keyword(s):  
Maximum Flow ◽  
Tidal Energy ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Streamwise Velocity ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Turbulent Structures ◽  
Length Scales ◽  
Marine Energy ◽  
Flow Speeds ◽  
Turbulence Parameters

This study presents the variation in turbulence parameters derived from site measurements at a tidal energy test site. Measurements were made towards the southern end of the European Marine Energy Centre’s tidal energy test site at the Fall of Warness (Orkney, Scotland). Four bottom mounted divergent-beam Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) were deployed at three locations over an area of 2 km by 1.4 km to assess the spatial and temporal variation in turbulence in the southern entrance to the channel. During the measurement campaign, average flood velocities of 2 ms−1 were recorded with maximum flow speeds of 3 ms−1 in the absence of significant wave activity. The velocity fluctuations and turbulence parameters show the presence of large turbulent structures at each location. The easternmost profiler located in the wake of a nearby headland during ebb tide, recorded flow shielding effects that reduced velocities to almost zero and produced large turbulence intensities. The depth-dependent analysis of turbulence parameters reveals large velocity variations with complex profiles that do not follow the standard smooth shear profile. Furthermore, turbulence parameters based on data collected from ADCPs deployed in a multi-carrier frame at the same location and time period, show significant differences. This shows a large sensitivity to the make and model of ADCPs with regards to turbulence. Turbulence integral length scales were calculated, and show eddies exceeding 30 m in size. Direct comparison of the length scales derived from the streamwise velocity component and along-beam velocities show very similar magnitudes and distributions with tidal phase.

scholarly journals A Decision Support Tool for Long-Term Planning of Marine Operations in Ocean Energy Projects

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 810
Author(s):  
Francisco X. Correia da Fonseca ◽  
Luís Amaral ◽  
Paulo Chainho
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Decision Support ◽  
Decision Support Tool ◽  
Ocean Energy ◽  
Support Tool ◽  
Marine Renewable Energy ◽  
Marine Energy ◽  
Energy Projects ◽  
Selection Algorithms ◽  
Maritime Infrastructure

Ocean energy is a relevant source of clean renewable energy, and as it is still facing challenges related to its above grid-parity costs, tariffs intended to support in a structured and coherent way are of great relevance and potential impact. The logistics and marine operations required for installing and maintaining these systems are major cost drivers of marine renewable energy projects. Planning the logistics of marine energy projects is a highly complex and intertwined process, and to date, limited advances have been made in the development of decision support tools suitable for ocean energy farm design. The present paper describes the methodology of a novel, opensource, logistic and marine operation planning tool, integrated within DTOceanPlus suite of design tools, and responsible for producing logistic solutions comprised of optimal selections of vessels, port terminals, equipment, as well as operation plans, for ocean energy projects. Infrastructure selection logistic functions were developed to select vessels, ports, and equipment for specific projects. A statistical weather window model was developed to estimate operation delays due to weather. A vessel charter rate modeling approach, based on an in-house vessel database and industry experience, is described in detail. The overall operation assumptions and underlying operating principles of the statistical weather window model, maritime infrastructure selection algorithms, and cost modeling strategies are presented. Tests performed for a case study based a theoretical floating wave energy converter produced results in good agreement with reality.

Peakedness of Wave Systems Observed on the French Wave Energy Test Site (SEM-REV) Using a Spectral Partitioning Algorithm

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Baptiste Saulnier ◽  
Izan Le Crom
Keyword(s):  
Wave Energy ◽  
Test Site ◽  
Extreme Conditions ◽  
Multiple Wave ◽  
Wave Energy Converters ◽  
Marine Energy ◽  
Partitioning Algorithm ◽  
Spectral Partitioning ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Energy Converters

Located off the Guérande peninsula, SEM-REV is the French maritime facility dedicated to the testing of wave energy converters and related components. Lead by Ecole Centrale de Nantes through the LHEEA laboratory, its aim is to promote research alongside the development of new offshore technologies. To this end, the 1km2, grid-connected zone is equipped with a comprehensive instruments network sensing met-ocean processes and especially waves, with two identical directional Waverider buoys deployed on the site since 2009. For the design of moored floating structures and, a fortiori, floating marine energy converters, the knowledge of the main wave resource — for regular operation — but also extreme conditions — for moorings and device survivability — has to be as precise as possible. Also, the consideration of the multiple wave systems (swell, wind sea) making up the sea state is a key asset for the support of developers before and during the testing phase. To this end, a spectral partitioning algorithm has been implemented which enables the individual characterisation of wave systems, in particular that of their spectral peakedness which is especially addressed in this work. Peakedness has been shown to be strongly related to the groupiness of large waves and is defined here as the standard JONSWAP’s peak enhancement factor γ. Statistics related to this quantity are derived from the measurement network, with a particular focus on the extreme conditions reported on SEM-REV (Joachim storm).

Investigation of the Down-Scaling Effects on the Low Swirl Burner and its Application to Microturbines

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Frank ◽  
Peter Therkelsen ◽  
Miguel Sierra Aznar ◽  
Vi H. Rapp ◽  
Robert K. Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Power Systems ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
The United States ◽  
Primary Energy ◽  
Department Of Energy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
United States Department ◽  
Scaling Effects ◽  
Swirl Burner

About 75% of the electric power generated by centralized power plants feeds the energy needs from the residential and commercial sectors. These power plants waste about 67% of primary energy as heat emitting 2 billion tons of CO2 per year in the process (∼ 38% of total US CO2 generated per year) [1]. A study conducted by the United States Department of Energy indicated that developing small-scale combined heat and power systems to serve the commercial and residential sectors could have a significant impact on both energy savings and CO2 emissions. However, systems of this scale historically suffer from low efficiencies for a variety of reasons. From a combustion perspective, at these small scales, few systems can achieve the balance between low emissions and high efficiencies due in part to the increasing sensitivity of the system to hydrodynamic and heat transfer effects. Addressing the hydrodynamic impact, the effects of downscaling on the flowfield evolution were studied on the low swirl burner (LSB) to understand if it could be adapted to systems at smaller scales. Utilizing particle image velocimetry (PIV), three different swirlers were studied ranging from 12 mm to 25.4 mm representing an output range of less than 1 kW to over 23 kW. Results have shown that the small-scale burners tested exhibited similar flowfield characteristics to their larger-scale counterparts in the non-reacting cases studied. Utilizing this data, as a proof of concept, a 14 mm diameter LSB with an output of 3.33 kW was developed for use in microturbine operating on a recuperated Brayton cycle. Emissions results from this burner proved the feasibility of the system at sufficiently lean mixtures. Furthermore, integration of the newly developed LSB into a can style combustor for a microturbine application was successfully completed and comfortably meet the stringent emissions targets. While the analysis of the non-reacting cases was successful, the reacting cases were less conclusive and further investigation is required to gain an understanding of the flowfield evolution which is the subject of future work.

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