Sustainable Electrical model for Scotland 2032

A very similar concept to wind turbines. Three types of tidal power systems to generate electricity are ...

 

 

• Tidal turbines

 

Tidal turbines structure is very similar as wind turbines but they are placed below water level and have shorter bladed. They have less environmental impact but will impact animal life disruption.

 

 

• Tidal Barrage

 

Tidal barrage has a structure of a dam with a sluice which collects water. When a high tidal enters the dam the pressure of the water rotates the turbine to rotate the generator to produce energy and then the water is released back to the ocean or sea.

 

 

• Tidal Lagoons

 

Lagoons work similar to a barrage. The only difference is it does not store all the water. Only requires a smaller amount to generate electricity

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Advantages

 

• Another form of renewable energy which has minimum environmental impact than fossil fuel

• Can help to lower carbon emission

• Sustainable and efficient renewable energy technology

• Minimal impact to the environmental and step toward reducing global warming and reducing carbon emission

• More consistent natural source compared to solar and wind

 

 

Disadvantages

 

• Higher manufacturing, operational and maintenance cost

• Ocean energy arrays needs to be connected to the grid which can be expensive

• Effects animals in sea and oceans

• Very little development as more research is required to understand the ocean system

 

 

Environmental impacts

 

Tidal energy is another positive renewable energy system which can produce electricity and can have potential to grow.

The main environmental impact for tidal is effects on sea animals as the flow pattern changes when tidal systems are constructed under water level. This can cause stress and deaths and reduce animal habitat life. The environmental impact is very minimum and needs to be assessed further as it will have effects on electric magnetic force, physical interaction between tidal system and sea animals and flow alterations.

 

 

 

WAVE ENERGY

 

 

Despite the fact that for our project this technology is not relevant due its capacity tis small capacity, we explain in this part with Tidal. Wave energy is another renewable technology that can generate electricity through wave. It’s a new technology like tidal.

 

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To obtain electricity a system is required. Wave heights, speed, density and wave length is used to generate power as wind interacts with water to form a kinetic energy and the rotation of earth. This energy then enters a generator which is placed at the surface of the sea water level. To avoid floating of equipment, it is fixed with cables to keep in place. Tubes are connected to the pump which pumps oil through a hydraulic motor which causes movements to the tube to activate the generator and generate electricity. This energy can be connected to the grid.

 

Advantages

 

• Another renewable and clean technology system

• Use of wave energy to generate green energy

• Can be combined with other technologies to increase capacities

• Zero carbon emission

• Potential near the Orkney isle in Scotland

 

 

Disadvantages

 

• Very new technologies and further assessment is required

• Implication with wildlife, shipping and transportation

• Noise pollution

• Use of oil in a pump and when leaked can pollute the ocean

 

 

Environmental impacts

 

Wave energy is one of the other renewable technology that has very minimal impact to carbon emission and can be another source to reduce global warming.

 

Visual Impact can be the main concern as it will cause disruption to the coast line and structure to the channel. The devices will be hardly seen as its main purpose it to have it below the water level. And wind can cause the devices to be slightly mismatched or scattered. Therefore, the design stage is very important before constructing an electricity field system on water.

 

The use of oil in the pump can be leaked and can pollute the water which is a major environmental impact as it will be difficult to separate the oil from water.

 

As the pump and generators are made of metals corrosion can also be another impact and therefore it is important to use anti-coating or paints and regular maintenance are required.

 

 

 

 

Reference

• Environmental approval for Perth wave project. (2013). Renewable Energy Focus, 14(1), p.8.

• FRAENKEL, P. (2006). Tidal Current Energy Technologies. Ibis, 148, pp.145-151.Wave and tidal current energy – A review of the current state of research beyond technology

• Neill, S., Hashemi, M. and Lewis, M. (2016). Tidal energy leasing and tidal phasing. Renewable Energy, 85(1), pp.580-587.

• Tidalenergy.eu. (2017). Tidal barrages Europe. [online] Available at: http://www.tidalenergy.eu/tidal_barrages.html [Accessed 9 May 2017].

• Tidalpower.co.uk. (2015). Tidal Power - Tidal Lagoon. [online] Available at: http://tidalpower.co.uk/tidal-lagoon [Accessed 9 May 2017].

• Us, A. and Maehlum, M. (2012). How Does Ocean Wave Power Work? - Energy Informative. [online] Energy Informative. Available at: http://energyinformative.org/wave-energy/ [Accessed 9 May 2017].

• Wavepower. (2016). Wavepower. [online] Available at: http://www.wavepower.com/ [Accessed 9 May 2017].