Title: Simulation-based evaluation of tidal current power output characteristics

Authors: Jonathan Blanchard, Fatah Chetouane

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, Universite de Moncton, 18 avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, New Brunswick, E1A 3E9, Canada. ' Faculty of Engineering, Universite de Moncton, 18 avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, New Brunswick, E1A 3E9, Canada

Abstract: Tidal current is considered to be one of the promising alternative green energy resources. This paper introduces a simulation based methodology to evaluate tidal current power output characteristics, including capacity factor, and power production variability patterns. Power variability analysis is crucial to grid integration systems design. The proposed methodology is applied to the well known Minas Channel in the Bay of Fundy (Atlantic Canada).

Keywords: capacity factors; energy integration; marine turbines; renewable energy; tidal current; Minas Channel; simulation; output characteristics; wave energy; tidal energy; wave power; marine energy; power variability analysis; grid integration systems.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRET.2010.036216

International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, 2010 Vol.1 No.4, pp.408 - 423

Received: 02 Sep 2009
Accepted: 09 Dec 2009
Published online: 29 Oct 2010 *

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