In-Stream Energy by Tidal and Wind-Driven Currents: An Analysis for the Gulf of California

Abstract

We analyzed the peak spring tidal current speeds, annual mean tidal power densities ( T P D ) and annual energy production ( A E P ) obtained from experiment 06.1, referred as the “HYCOM model” throughout, of the three dimensional (3D), global model HYCOM in an area covering the Baja California Pacific and the Gulf of California. The HYCOM model is forced with astronomical tides and surface winds alone, and therefore is particularly suitable to assess the tidal current and wind-driven current contribution to in-stream energy resources. We find two areas within the Gulf of California, one in the Great Island Region and one in the Upper Gulf of California, where peak spring tidal flows reach speeds of 1.1 m per second. Second to fifth-generation tidal stream devices would be suitable for deployment in these two areas, which are very similar in terms of tidal in-stream energy resources. However, they are also very different in terms of sediment type and range in water depth, posing different challenges for in-stream technologies. The highest mean T P D value when excluding TPDs equal or less than 50 W m−2 (corresponding to the minimum velocity threshold for energy production) is of 172.8 W m−2, and is found near the town of San Felipe, at (lat lon) = (31.006–114.64); here energy would be produced during 39.00% of the time. Finally, wind-driven currents contribute very little to the mean T P D and the total A E P . Therefore, the device, the grid, and any energy storage plans need to take into account the periodic tidal current fluctuations, for optimal exploitation of the resources.

In-Stream Tidal Energy Resources in Macrotidal Non-Cohesive Sediment Environments: Effect of Morphodynamic Changes at Two Bays in the Upper Gulf of California

“…Indeed, within a year the size of such regions has more than doubled in Adaír Bay, a reassuring result for any would-be tidal energy developer interested in implementing a tidal energy demonstration plant in the region. resources in shallow regions in comparison to the global model used by [26]. However, we observe that the global model ( Fig.…”

“…Here N is the total number of hourly data in the simulated year, or the number of times when TPD i is above the threshold value of 50 W m -2 , depending on the variable used. This technical TPD threshold corresponds to a low-speed threshold of 0.46 m s -1 , typical of most tidal energy devices, as discussed in [26]. The mean spring tidal speed maxima, U STM , is computed by identifying the maximum flow speed in spring tides, which for the year of simulation gives 26 maxima, and then computing the mean of those values.…”

In-Stream Tidal Energy Resources in Macrotidal Non-Cohesive Sediment Environments: Effect of Morphodynamic Changes at Two Bays in the Upper Gulf of California

“…with w s the (terminal) settling velocity (m/s). As there are neither estuaries nor other sources of sediment discharge in the area of interest, the source/sink terms in Equation ( 6) are directly linked to E − D, as defined in Equation (6). The model also includes a bedload transport formulation that is considered in the bathymetric evolution, the reader is referred to the Delft3D manual for further information [15].…”

“…The tides were the only forcing implemented in the model because we assumed climatologically mild conditions, and thus the tides dominate over other forcing mechanisms. This assumption is justified because the renewable energy resources generated by tidal currents in this region are significantly larger than those generated by wind-driven currents, even during a climatologically average year (see [6] for more details).…”

“…Tidal ranges and spring-neap cycle characteristics both affect tidal energy production for tidal lagoon developments. Other studies have also shown that tidal currents are commercially viable energy resources in the Great Island Region and the upper GC [6].…”