Tidal Power Generation Silent, invisible, predictable and renewable. Tidal Energy takes a quantum leap Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Presentation to the Institution of Engineering and Technology September 2008 Background information Why? How? Where? The ARE project Plans Status The future Alderney Renewable Energy Ltd, N° 1 The Crusher, Braye Harbour, Alderney, Channel Islands GY9 3XX Alderney Registered No. 1486 Tel. +44(0)1481 825555 Fax +44(0)1481 822593 Email: [email protected] www.are.gb.com Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 The need • The energy strategy of the majority of Western European countries apears worrying in the medium term – in terms of resources – in terms of its carbon footprint Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 National Grid Gas Forecasts & Import Requirement source – www.nationalgrid.com 140 100% Actuals Forecast 120 80% 100 60% Imports% 80 60 40% 40 Supply / Demand (bcm/y) SupplyDemand / 20% 20 0 0% 00/01 02/03 04/05 06/07 08/09 10/11 12/13 14/15 16/17 UKCS 2007 UKCS Upside UK Demand exc IUK % Import Requirement Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Brent oil price • We all know what has happened to the oil price in recent months but where will it go next? Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Global warming driving demand for clean energy – UN forecast 85% increase in global energy consumption by 2020 – Global warming a reality. – Increasing desire for lower carbon emissions and increased use of alternative energies – In last three years oil price has increased from <$20 to >$??? – Many governments are providing large subsidies for “clean” energy solutions Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 “Clean” energy sources • Nuclear • Wind • Wave • Solar • Tidal • Biomass • Others Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Tidal energy advantages Predict- Energy Visual & • The produced energy ability density acoustic is 100% predictable impact Tidal (to 100 years!) • The turbines are Wave underwater – invisible and inaudible Wind • Water density is 830 Bio fuels times that of air Solar Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Benefits of Tidal Power • It’s predictable, unlike wind and wave • Large amounts can be harvested but only in certain locations • It’s clean – Little/no visual impact on environment – Other environmental issues expected to be modest Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Tidal Power Industry • Tidal Power Industry is still in the early stages of development but is progressing rapidly • No commercial Tidal Stream power farms exist Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Tidal Devices Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Time for some sums! • POWER MAX= 0.5 x A x R x C x VELOCITY CUBED – Where A is the swept out area of the propeller. [square metres] – Where R is the density of the fluid [seawater is 1024 kg/cubic metre] – C is the capacity factor to allow for efficiency of the turbine design for capture of the stream energy. • For a 20 metre propeller, a sea device in a 3.5 metres/second current can generate 2 MW. • A 2 MW wind generator would require a wind speed of 360 km/hour, Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Tidal Power Industry – A single test unit of 1MW currently costs approx. £6m to deploy (wind comparison £750k) – Economies of scale will bring costs down to viable levels – Carbon Trust report and industry estimates confirm the long term financial viability of Tidal Power – UK Gov investing £50m in marine renewables. Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Marine Current Technologies’ map of suitable UK sites for tidal energy • Alderney is one of the Channel Islands • Alderney has the second best resource for Tidal Stream power in Northern Europe. Alderney Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Alderney Tidal Resource • Just 8 nautical miles from the coast of France – and connection to the French grid. • Direct connection to UK grid is also possible (60 nautical miles). • Estimates of harvestable tidal stream power range from 2 to 3GW Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Alderney’s Resources • The island’s current electrical needs are only 1.5MW • Electrical energy currently comes from imported fuel oil. Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 The project phases 1. Obtain a 5 year exclusive development licence 2. Develop devices at EMEC and prepare the ground in and around Alderney – Consents – Map out the resource – Bathymetric surveys – Environmental aspects – Health & safety aspects 3. Install in Alderney waters and produce “x MWh over y months before z” 4. Obtain 50 year exclusive operations licence 5. Connect to Alderney grid and supply the island 6. Connect to French +/- Guernsey grid 7. Connect to UK grid Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Phase 1 - The Principal Parties • The States of Alderney – A democratically elected government (Alderney is not part of the United Kingdom) • ACRE - Alderney Commission for Renewable Energy – Reports to the States of Alderney – Represents the monitoring and control body overseeing ARE • ARE - Alderney Renewable Energy Ltd – A local company holding an exclusive licence to exploit the energy in the Alderney territorial waters • AEL - Alderney Electricity Ltd – The company currently responsible for the production and distribution of electrical energy on the island Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Mission Statement Alderney Renewable Energy aims to ensure Alderney’s energy-producing marine resources are harvested effectively and safely in a manner that benefits Alderney, is economically viable, is sensitive to the local environment and contributes to the world requirement for clean energy. Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 The challenges • Technological – Find the most appropriate solution for the environment and Alderney’s resources • Financial – Get listed for marine renewable energy subsidies – Tidal energy cost effectiveness – Other financial resources • Electrical grid connection – Connection to French grid – …somewhere between Cherbourg and Flamanville Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 What’s happened so far? ARE activity and progress • Phase 1 - December 2005 – contract signed with States of Alderney • Meeting the challenges – Phases 2 to ??? – Environmental impact assessment issues – Relations with device developers – Discussions with French authorities re: grid connection – Discussions with UK government re: grid connection – Discussions with UK government re: subsidies – Further substantial investment Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 PUBLIC CONSULTATION • Extensive formal public consultation on the island – Fisheries Officers – Sailing Club – Licensed Fishing Boats Owners Association – Alderney Wildlife Trust – Maritime Trust – Alderney Electricity Limited – Building Development Committee – Diving Club – Alderney Society • Consultations in France – In planning stages Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Local population support Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Logistics difficulties getting there and back • Sea – Guernsey 4/week – Cherbourg 2/week, Dielette 2/week • Air – Guernsey 4/day – Southampton 3/day, Bournemouth 2/day Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Arriving/leaving by air • The runway is 880m long • “Weather is king” • A Trislander carries 16 passengers Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Phase 2 • Environmental Impact Assessments – Programme devised by Entec, a leading UK environmental consultancy – Surveys commenced March 2006 (two years’ data needed) – 1,500 nautical miles of marine survey transects in the Swinge and the Race – UK professional wildlife surveyor flown in every fortnight – Habitat mapping and benthic ecology – Guidance from Alderney Wildlife Trust where appropriate – Environmental Impacts Study submitted to ACRE in November 2007 Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Phase 2 • Environmental Impact Assessments - Marine mammals – Short beaked dolphin (Delphinus delphis) – Bottle-nosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) – Grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) – Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) – Need to sight from boats or the shore (or, for seals, in haul out areas) – Very little information on breeding habits • Fish – Detection with sonar – information on migratory and breeding habits is very difficult to obtain Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Phase 2 • Environmental Impact Assessments – Bird life – West Coast and Burhou Islands are designated as a Ramsar site – Northern Gannets (Morus bassanus) – 5 900 breeding pairs – 1 000 non-breeding adults – 5 000 sub-adult birds – 2% of world population – international importance – Storm Petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) – 60-100 pairs (2000), 30 000 pairs in 1974 – Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) – 180 pairs (50 000 pairs in 1953) Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Gannet migration • Gannets from Alderney have been found in Morocco, as far as Mauritania and in Norway Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Phase 2 • Resource mapping – Work commenced to quantify the extractable power resource in Alderney’s waters – Deployment of ADPs (Acoustic Doppler Profilers) since September 2005 – HR Wallingford have scoped 3D modelling of the resource – Geophysical and bathymetric surveys in 2007 along with additional ADP data collection – Some good news, some “not so good” news Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Phase 2 • Principal device developers – Current to Current Corporation – Tidal Generation Ltd – Open Hydro – HammerFest – Strom – Clean Current Power Systems Inc. – MCT – Lunar – Overberg – SMD Hydro Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Production devices • Agreement with leading device developer – Have already deployed test units in Scotland – Sub surface solution – Agreement reached in principle for test unit to be deployed in Alderney in 2009 – Synchronised with UK grid May 2008 Michael Wrigley 4 October 2008 Production