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The hydrokinetic power resource in a tidal estuary: The Kennebec River of the central Maine coast

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  • Brooks, David A.

Abstract

Power levels available from the kinetic energy of tidal flows can be significant in coastal or estuarine regions with relatively modest tidal ranges. For example, the central Maine coast, where the mean semi-diurnal tidal range is about 3 m, includes several river estuaries with narrow interconnecting passages where tidal currents exceed 2 m s−1. A numerical circulation model applied to this region shows that the vigorous tidal flows lead to available power peaks exceeding 3 kW per square meter of turbine aperture in several sites during a spring tide. At one promising location, the peak power density is 6.5 kW/m2 near the surface and the energy capacity in a 500 m2 section under mean tidal conditions is about 2700 MWh per year, sufficient to meet the average consumption needs of about 150 homes connected to an electrical grid capable of accepting the tidal power pulses and blending them with traditional sources.

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  • Brooks, David A., 2011. "The hydrokinetic power resource in a tidal estuary: The Kennebec River of the central Maine coast," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(5), pages 1492-1501.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:36:y:2011:i:5:p:1492-1501
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2010.10.029
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brooks, David A., 2006. "The tidal-stream energy resource in Passamaquoddy–Cobscook Bays: A fresh look at an old story," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(14), pages 2284-2295.
    2. Garrett, Chris & Cummins, Patrick, 2008. "Limits to tidal current power," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2485-2490.
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    2. Ramos, V. & Carballo, R. & Álvarez, M. & Sánchez, M. & Iglesias, G., 2014. "A port towards energy self-sufficiency using tidal stream power," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 432-444.
    3. Fouz, D.M. & Carballo, R. & López, I. & Iglesias, G., 2022. "A holistic methodology for hydrokinetic energy site selection," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 317(C).
    4. Plew, David R. & Stevens, Craig L., 2013. "Numerical modelling of the effect of turbines on currents in a tidal channel – Tory Channel, New Zealand," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 269-282.
    5. Work, Paul A. & Haas, Kevin A. & Defne, Zafer & Gay, Thomas, 2013. "Tidal stream energy site assessment via three-dimensional model and measurements," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 510-519.
    6. Cruz, M. & Henriques, R. & Pinho, J.L. & Avilez-Valente, P. & Bio, A. & Iglesias, I., 2023. "Assessment of the potential for hydrokinetic energy production in the Douro river estuary under sea level rise scenarios," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    7. Kresning, Boma & Hashemi, M. Reza & Neill, Simon P. & Green, J. A. Mattias & Xue, Huijie, 2019. "The impacts of tidal energy development and sea-level rise in the Gulf of Maine," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    8. Iglesias, G. & Sánchez, M. & Carballo, R. & Fernández, H., 2012. "The TSE index – A new tool for selecting tidal stream sites in depth-limited regions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 350-357.
    9. Mestres, Marc & Cerralbo, Pablo & Grifoll, Manel & Sierra, Joan Pau & Espino, Manuel, 2019. "Modelling assessment of the tidal stream resource in the Ria of Ferrol (NW Spain) using a year-long simulation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 811-817.
    10. Iglesias, I. & Bio, A. & Bastos, L. & Avilez-Valente, P., 2021. "Estuarine hydrodynamic patterns and hydrokinetic energy production: The Douro estuary case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    11. Yuce, M. Ishak & Muratoglu, Abdullah, 2015. "Hydrokinetic energy conversion systems: A technology status review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 72-82.
    12. Mestres, Marc & Griñó, Maria & Sierra, Joan Pau & Mösso, César, 2016. "Analysis of the optimal deployment location for tidal energy converters in the mesotidal Ria de Vigo (NW Spain)," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(P1), pages 1179-1187.
    13. Zarzuelo, Carmen & López-Ruiz, Alejandro & Ortega-Sánchez, Miguel, 2018. "Impact of human interventions on tidal stream power: The case of Cádiz Bay," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 88-104.

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