The Physics and Hydrodynamic Setting of Marine Renewable Energy

Abstract

Increasing interest is apparent in marine energy resources, particularly tidal and wave. Some TeraWatts of energy propagate from the world’s oceans to its marginal seas in the form of surface waves (≈ 2 TW) and tides (≅ 2.6 TW) where that energy is naturally dissi- pated. The seas and coastlines around the UK and its neighbours are notable for dissipating a significant fraction of the global energy of waves (≈ 50 MW km−1 on the Atlantic coast) and especially tides (> 250 GW north of Brittany). Displacing a significant fraction of the natural dissipation by energy capture is a tempting and reasonable proposition, but it does raise technical and environmental issues. Sustainable exploitation of the energy needs to consider diverse effects on the environment, waves and tides having a role in maintaining the shelf sea, coastal, estuarine and shoreline environment through associated advection, stirring and other processes. Tides are particularly significant in controlling the stratifica- tion of shelf seas and their flow characteristics. Surface waves are more important in deter- mining conditions nearshore and in the intertidal zone. Also, the exploitation of wave and tidal resources is only practical economically and technologically at a limited number of energetic and accessible sites, and societal and ecological considerations inevitably narrow the choice.