Original scientific paper
Tidal Power in the UK and Worldwide to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
T. J. Hammons
; International Practices for Energy Development & Power Generation, UK Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group (PRASEG), University of Glasgow, United Kingdom
Abstract
This paper discusses the role of Tidal Power in
the UK in fulfilling the UK’s requirements for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions. Generating electricity from
tidal range of the Severn Estuary has the potential to
generate some 5% of UK electricity from a renewable
indigenous resource.
The paper focuses primarily on the proposed Severn
Barrage considering potential benefits, conditions for
sustainable development, energy policy context and
compliance with environment legislation. UK tidal
resource is reviewed: stream resource (that is KE
contained in fast‐flowing tidal currents), and tidal range
resource (that refers to gravitation potential energy). The
top tidal range and tidal stream sites in the UK with the
resource (in TWh/year) are indicated.
A feasibility study for Tidal Range development in the
Mersey Estuary is also summarised and other schemes
including the Loughor Estuary (Wales), Duddon Estuary
(located on the Cumbrian coast) and the Thames Estuary
proposals are reported. Also given is a strategic overview
of the Severn Estuary resource, electric output and
characteristics, carbon emissions (carbon payback and
carbon reduction potential) and physical implications of a
barrage.
Keywords
Energy sources and the environment; renewable energy; energy conversion systems; power generation (renewables); physics of tidal power; harnessing tidal power (tidal range, tidal stream); greenhouse gas emissions, Severn and Mersey barrage
Hrčak ID:
71501
URI
Publication date:
15.5.2011.
Visits: 3.428 *