Potential Tidal Power Investigation

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Client: Tenax Energy
Location: Port Phillip Bay, Westernport, Banks Strait, Darwin Harbour and Broad Sound

Key Services Provided:

  • MIKE21 hydrodynamic model
  • Tidal Power Calculations

Overview

Water Technology was commissioned by Tenax Energy to investigate and assess the potential for tidal power generation in five areas around Australia, those listed above. The scope of the work includes setting up numerical models of the selected areas and calibrating against tides constructed from tidal constituents. Thereafter, retrieving the velocity of the tidal current at given locations to calculate the power generation potential. The investigations made use numerical modelling with MIKE21 HD, which were calibrated using known tidal information.

The numerical models used in the study were a combination of existing models developed by water Technology in previous investigations and new models developed specifically for the present study. The models were developed using DHI Software’s main MIKE 21 (HD) Hydrodynamic modelling system. MIKE 21 HD solves the vertically integrated equations for the conservation of continuity and momentum over a rectangular, flexible or curvilinear grid covering the area of interest. Key inputs include the model bathymetry, bed resistance coefficients, wind conditions, and hydrographic boundary conditions. Where an existing model was available, the model was re-established and its calibration verified against predicted tides within the area of interest. Where a new model was required, the model bathymetry was developed from the digitised C-Map data, appropriate boundary conditions were developed from available tidal data, and the model was calibrated against predicted tides and, where available tidal streams, within the area of interest. The tidal power potential was calculated over a neap-spring tide cycle, and then extrapolated to provide an estimate of the total potential tidal power generation over a year. The most suitable location for potential tidal power was then able to be determined.