Abstract
Tidal power is an alternative of one of the pioneer approaches for sustainable development. This type of energy generation has been developed very little, but in support of less research and tough job in finding locations, favourable to establish tidal power plants. The methodology, used in the present work, can be harnessed for any of the future tidal power plants having small scale but local sustainable domain in terms of energy. By briefing the status of tidal energy worldwide as well as in India and learning the model used for estimating the power potential, an attempt has been made on the potential assessment carried out at specific location of Talasheel creek of Gad river (District Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, India) and reassessment of the energy potential in terms of scientific evaluation and strategic planning by the study of tidal stream generator and types of stream generator and proposing the suitable turbine for required site by analysing their specifications, measuring the actual hydrodynamic parameters have been incorporated in present study. Depth and velocity along cross section was found, and correlating them with satellite image data and obtaining the profile of cross section of creek by terrain view as well as by mathematical model using Lagrange Nth degree polynomial interpolation, has been attempted. It is observed that the correlation between the power rating of stream turbines can be performed thereby power generation potential for local zones can be estimated as a fraction of total energy requirement in future, incorporating influence of population rise and withholding the number of turbines to be accommodated. The geological and topographical constraints have also been considered. Further, it is concluded that the similar geoinformatic approach can be extended for different creeks/estuaries along the Indian coast for estimation as well as assessment of tidal power generation potential in an easy manner.