Survey and numerical model analysis for siting kilowatt-scale tidal turbines

The results of a Finite Volume Coastal Ocean Model of a narrow inlet were used to determine three potential deployment locations for an array of killowatt-scale cross-flow tidal turbines. A single day vessel-based acoustic Doppler current profiler survey was then conducted to more finely resolve differences in power and deployment suitability for each of the sites. Substantial variation in kinetic power density exists between the locations, separated by no more than 300 m, due to complex bathymetry of the site. Both the model and survey indicate the same location as most suitable for deployment. Average relative error in speed magnitude between the model and measurements is less than 10%.