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Evaluating the potential for energy extraction from turbines in the gulf stream system

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  • Yang, Xiufeng
  • Haas, Kevin A.
  • Fritz, Hermann M.

Abstract

Increasing energy consumption and decreasing reserves of fossil fuels have led to growing interest in renewable energy from the ocean. Ocean currents are an alternative source of clean energy due to their inherent reliability, persistence and sustainability. General ocean circulations exist in the form of large rotating ocean gyres, and feature extremely rapid current flow in the western boundaries due to the Coriolis effect. The Gulf Stream system is formed by the western boundary current of the North Atlantic Ocean that flows along the east coastline of the United States, and therefore is of particular interest as a potential energy resource for the United States. The theoretical energy balance in the Gulf Stream system is examined using the two-dimensional ocean circulation equations based on the assumptions of the Stommel model for subtropical gyres with the quasi-geostrophic balance between pressure gradient, Coriolis force, wind stress and friction driving the circulation. To represent flow dissipation due to turbines a spatially varying turbine drag coefficient is formulated and a finite difference numerical approach is utilized to obtain an implicit solution of the model. The results show that considering extraction over a region representing the entire Florida Current portion of the Gulf Stream system, the average power dissipated ranges between 4 and 6 GW with a mean around 5.1 GW. This corresponds to an average of approximately 45 TWh/yr. However, if the extraction area approximates the entire portion of the Gulf Stream within 200 miles of the US coastline, the average power dissipated becomes 18.6 GW or 163 TWh/yr. The impact of the localized turbine drag on the hydrodynamics is primarily within the turbine region. The extra drag force from turbines slows down the current velocity and leads to redirection of the Gulf Stream flow. It also results in a sea surface drop in the turbine region. Localized turbine drag significantly reduces residual kinetic energy flux in the circulation. However, its influence on the residual volume flux depends on the area of the turbine region.

Suggested Citation

  • Yang, Xiufeng & Haas, Kevin A. & Fritz, Hermann M., 2014. "Evaluating the potential for energy extraction from turbines in the gulf stream system," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 12-21.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:72:y:2014:i:c:p:12-21
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2014.06.039
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bahaj, A.S & Myers, L.E, 2003. "Fundamentals applicable to the utilisation of marine current turbines for energy production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 28(14), pages 2205-2211.
    2. Mueller, Markus & Wallace, Robin, 2008. "Enabling science and technology for marine renewable energy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(12), pages 4376-4382, December.
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    3. Razi, P. & Ramaprabhu, P. & Tarey, P. & Muglia, M. & Vermillion, C., 2022. "A low-order wake interaction modeling framework for the performance of ocean current turbines under turbulent conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 1602-1617.
    4. Roger Samsó & Júlia Crespin & Antonio García-Olivares & Jordi Solé, 2023. "Examining the Potential of Marine Renewable Energy: A Net Energy Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-35, May.
    5. Yang, Xiufeng & Haas, Kevin A. & Fritz, Hermann M. & French, Steven P. & Shi, Xuan & Neary, Vincent S. & Gunawan, Budi, 2015. "National geodatabase of ocean current power resource in USA," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 496-507.
    6. Li, Binghui & de Queiroz, Anderson Rodrigo & DeCarolis, Joseph F. & Bane, John & He, Ruoying & Keeler, Andrew G. & Neary, Vincent S., 2017. "The economics of electricity generation from Gulf Stream currents," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 649-658.
    7. Milad Shadman & Corbiniano Silva & Daiane Faller & Zhijia Wu & Luiz Paulo de Freitas Assad & Luiz Landau & Carlos Levi & Segen F. Estefen, 2019. "Ocean Renewable Energy Potential, Technology, and Deployments: A Case Study of Brazil," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-37, September.
    8. Domenico Curto & Vincenzo Franzitta & Andrea Guercio, 2021. "Sea Wave Energy. A Review of the Current Technologies and Perspectives," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-31, October.
    9. Campisi-Pinto, Salvatore & Gianchandani, Kaushal & Ashkenazy, Yosef, 2020. "Statistical tests for the distribution of surface wind and current speeds across the globe," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 861-876.

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