COMBINED POTENTIAL AND IMPACTS OF TIDAL LAGOONS ALONG THE NORTH WALES COAST

摘要

The UK has some of the largest tidal ranges in the world with the potential for extensive renewable electricity generation. In the light of commitments to meet EU renewable energy targets, there is an emerging interest towards marine renewable energy schemes, seeking to harness the energy resource available from the high tidal ranges recorded around certain locations of the Welsh coastline. This study examines the combined far- and near-field impacts of multiple coastally attached tidal lagoons proposed along the North Wales coast. A two-dimensional numerical model, based on an unstructured triangular mesh, has been refined to simulate the hydrodynamic processes for some of the proposed coastally attached impoundments (or tidal lagoons). A validated finite volume method has been implemented to solve the 2D shallow water equations, based on a second-order accurate spatial and temporal numerical scheme. Details are given of the significant hydro-environmental aspects which must be taken into account when optimizing the design of such proposals. The operation of the tidal lagoons has a considerable effect on the hydrodynamics in the region, including significantly mitigating against flood risk in areas which were previously susceptible to coastal flooding. In the meantime, predicted electricity generated by the lagoon turbines highlights the potential of this untapped energy resource around Wales.