Abstract
TC 114 Marine energy - Wave, tidal and other water current converters - Part 201: Tidal energy resource assessment and characterization
IEC TS 62600-201:2025 establishes a system for analysing and reporting, through estimation or direct measurement, the theoretical tidal current energy resource in oceanic areas including estuaries (to the limit of tidal influence) that can be suitable for the installation of one or more TECs. It is intended to be applied at various stages of project life cycle to provide suitably accurate estimates of the tidal resource to enable the arrays’ projected annual energy production to be calculated at each TEC location in conjunction with IEC TS 62600-200.
The purpose of this document is to provide a uniform methodology that will ensure consistency and accuracy in the estimation, measurement, characterization and analysis of the theoretical tidal current resource at sites that could be suitable for the installation of individual or arrays of Tidal Energy Converters (TECs), together with defining a standardised methodology with which this resource can be described and reported. Application of the estimation, measurement and analysis techniques recommended in this document will ensure that resource assessment is undertaken in a consistent and accurate manner. This document presents techniques that are expected to provide fair and suitably accurate results that can be replicated by others.
This document describes only the aspects of the resource required to calculate AEP and assess its uncertainty; e.g. it does not describe aspects of the resource required to evaluate design loads or to satisfy environmental regulations. Furthermore, this document is not intended to cover every eventuality that can be relevant for any particular project. Therefore, this document assumes that the user has access to, and reviews, other relevant IEC documentation before undertaking work (e.g. surveys and modelling) which could also satisfy other requirements.