Tidal Power from the Estuaries of NW England

摘要

The geographical location of the United Kingdom and the seas that surround it provide internationally enviable renewable resources. Technologies for wind power extraction are now mature and an increasing role for the opportunistic capture of this intermittent energy source for the electricity grid is firmly established. Marine wave energy offers even greater scope for the future, with somewhat slower temporal variability but with necessary technological advances still outstanding. Even more exclusive, however, is the potential for tidal energy extraction from around the UK coastline. The most attractive locations for harnessing tidal power are estuaries with a high tidal range for barrages, and other areas with strong tidal currents (e.g. straits and headlands) for free-standing tidal stream devices. Barrage schemes, drawing on established low-head hydropower technology, are fully proven. The La Ranee plant in France has now passed its 40~(th) year of operation.