Comparison of 0-D, 1-D and 2-D model capabilities for tidal range energy resource assessments

Tidal range energy projects present an attractive means for the predictable and large-scale generation of electricity from the marine environment. In particular, proposals are under consideration in UK waters, with their feasibility currently being under high levels of scrutiny. This is due to a combination of potential environmental and socio-economic impacts that are challenging to quantify in the absence of a standardised methodology. At present, numerical models are being developed to provide robust resource/impact assessments and inform future designs. However, modelling inconsistencies in the representation of tidal power plants, operational algorithms, and turbine technology parameters can be observed in the studies to-date. This has made comparisons between proposed designs difficult to accomplish and rely upon. We present a series of models that progressively and consistently introduce spatial dimensions in resource prediction applications. The capabilities and limitations of each of these models are discussed with regard to the evaluation of energy resource and potential hydrodynamic impacts of tidal power plant proposals. Results highlight that a range of hydrodynamic scales should be considered, employing updated parametric models relating to the turbine technology capabilities. These steps will inform optimisation analyses and the robustness of tidal power plant proposals.

潮汐能项目作为一种从海洋环境中可预测且大规模发电的有吸引力的手段，备受关注。特别是在英国水域，目前正对其可行性进行高度审查。这主要是因为在缺乏标准化方法的情况下，难以量化潜在的环境和社会经济影响。目前，正在开发数值模型以提供稳健的资源/影响评估，并为未来的设计提供信息。然而，在现有的研究中，可以观察到在潮汐电站、运行算法和技术参数表征方面的建模不一致性。这使得对设计方案之间的比较变得困难且不可靠。我们提出了一系列模型，这些模型在资源预测应用中逐步且一致地引入空间维度。讨论了这些模型在评估能源资源和潮汐电站提案的潜在水动力学影响方面的能力和局限性。结果强调，应考虑多种水动力学尺度，并采用与涡轮机技术能力相关的更新参数模型。这些步骤将为优化分析和潮汐电站提案的稳健性提供信息。