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Harnessing Tidal Energy in the Westfjords

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Harnessing Tidal Energy in the Westfjords Master‘s thesis Harnessing tidal energy in the Westfjords Bjarni M Jónsson AdvisorAdvisor:: Þorsteinn Ingi Sigfússon, PhPhDDDD University of Akureyri Faculty of Business and Science University Centre of the Westfjords Master of Resource Management: Coastal and Marine Management Ísafjörður, May 2010 Supervisory Committee Advisor: Þorsteinn Ingi Sigfússon, Ph.D. External Reader: John Nyboer, Ph.D. Program Director: Dagný Arnarsdóttir, MSc. Bjarni M. Jónsson Harnessing tidal energy in the Westfjords 60 ECTS thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of a Master of Resource Management degree in Coastal and Marine Management at the University Centre of the Westfjords, Suðurgata 12, 400 Ísafjörður, Iceland Degree accredited by the University of Akureyri, Faculty of Business and Science, Borgir, 600 Akureyri, Iceland Copyright © 2010 Bjarni M. Jónsson All rights reserved Printing: University Centre of the Westfjords and H-Prent, Ísafjörður, June 2010 Declaration I hereby confirm that I am the sole author of this thesis and it is a product of my own academic research. __________________________________________ Bjarni M. Jónsson Master’s thesis Harnessing tidal energy in the Westfjords MarMarchchchch 2010 Bjarni M. Jónsson Instructor: Professor Þorsteinn I. SigfussonSigfusson.. Ph.D. University of Akureyri Faculty of Business and Science UnUnUniUn iiiversityversity Centre of the Westfjords Master of ReResourcesource Management: Coastal and Marine ManagementManagement i Abstract This thesis presents for the first time a serious and original attempt to provide direction for harnessing tidal power in the western fjords of Iceland. It focuses on the barrage method as the most likely technology to meet this goal. The feasibility of utilizing tidal energy as a renewable energy source in this area is approached from a scientific as well as a practical viewpoint. Evaluating measurements of tidal currents, Fourier analysis of water heights time series, estimations of energy potential in selected locations in the Westfjords, evidence points toward the tidal barrage as the most promising approach to electrical generation in designated fjords. Preliminary findings indicate favorable conditions in a few specific areas. In Gilsfjörður, a tidal barrage is already in place, making the addition of a power plant both cost-effective and practical. In another, a new road crossing is planned over three fjords, Þorskafjörður, Djúpifjörður and Gufufjörður. Combining road construction in the common mouth of those fjords, with tidal power plant development, addresses a range of local and regional issues, and would result in a maximum potential of about 70 MW of renewable periodic energy, producing a total of 144 GWh per year. Keywords: Coastal zone, renewable energy, tidal barrage, tidal power, Westfjords. ii Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisor Prof. Þorsteinn Ingi Sigfússon, Ph.D., for his unfailing guidance throughout the work. Also Geir Guðmundsson, of the Innovation Centre, for various useful suggestions towards the end of the project. Micaela Kristin-Kali, Ph.D., offered suggestions during the writing process. Also, valuable discussion with Prof. Ólafur Guðmundsson, Ph.D., of the University of Reykjavík regarding the harmonic analysis of tidal waves. My thanks also go to a number of people who have assisted in various ways to make this project possible. They are: Peter Weiss, Ph.D., Sigríður Ólafsdóttir, and Pernilla Rein of The University Centre of The Westfjords. I owe many people thanks for their assistance and advice during my work. I list them alphabetically: Andrea Haraldsson, Bragi M. Bragason (Míla), Böðvar Þórisson (Náttúrustofa Vestfjarða), Guðjón Sch. Tryggvason (Icelandic Coastguard - Hydrographic Department), Guðlaugur Sigurgeirsson (Landsnet), Hreinn Haraldsson, Ph.D., (Dir. Gen, The Icelandic Road Administration), Jón Ö. Pálsson, (Atvest), Kristján Haraldsson (CEO, Orkubú Vestfjarða), Shiran K. Þórisson (Vaxvest), Steingrímur Jónsson, Ph.D., Sölvi Sólbergsson (Orkubú Vestfjarða), Þorgeir Pálsson (CEO Atvest), Þorleifur Eiríksson, Ph.D. (Náttúrustofa Vestfjarða), Icelandic Maritime Administration and The National Energy Authority of Iceland. Finally I would like to thank my wife Þóra G. Ingimarsdóttir for her patience over the past two years. iii Table of contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................. ii 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Field research ........................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 The Westfjords ......................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Definition of the problem ......................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Questions to be answered ....................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Study approach ........................................................................................................................ 5 1.6 Summary of the sections .......................................................................................................... 7 2 Theoretical overview ................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 The tides ................................................................................................................................... 9 2.2 A short overview of tidal power harnessing history .............................................................. 12 2.3 The functioning of the first tidal mills .................................................................................... 12 2.4 Tidal mills ................................................................................................................................ 14 2.5 Tidal power plants .................................................................................................................. 20 2.6 Tidal technology - overview ................................................................................................... 28 2.7 Why harness tidal power? ...................................................................................................... 29 2.8 Tidal Barrage - tidal power plants. ......................................................................................... 31 2.9 Social implications (tidal barrage) .......................................................................................... 33 2.10 Ecological and environmental aspects (tidal barrage) ........................................................... 33 2.11 Economics (tidal barrage) ....................................................................................................... 35 2.12 Tidal currents a different concept of tidal power plants. ...................................................... 36 2.13 New and future projects ........................................................................................................ 47 2.14 Social implications ( tidal current power plant) ...................................................................... 48 2.15 Ecological and environmental aspects ( tidal current power plant) ....................................... 48 2.16 Economics (tidal current power plant) .................................................................................. 49 3 Icelandic circumstances ............................................................................................................ 51 3.1 Coastal zone ........................................................................................................................... 51 iv 3.2 Regulatory framework ........................................................................................................... 51 3.3 Acts and regulations ............................................................................................................... 52 5 Connection to the grid ............................................................................................................... 65 6 Comparison example ................................................................................................................. 69 7 Site decision ................................................................................................................................. 73 7.1 Current measurements .......................................................................................................... 75 7.2 Fourier analysis ...................................................................................................................... 89 7.3 Simplified tidal economic model (STEM) for tidal current turbines ...................................... 93 7.4 Selected locations .................................................................................................................. 97 8 Proposition of how to use/store the energy ....................................................................... 103 9 Barrage power plant in Gilsfjörður and Þorskafjörður ...................................................
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