Large scale environmental effects of tidal energy extraction in the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier
Tidal energy will become much more important in the future renewable energy mix. In the Netherlands several tidal energy pilots are present. One of these locations is the Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier, which provides a unique location where tidal velocities are locally enhanced due to the presence of the barrier. Five turbines were installed in one of the openings of the barrier in 2015 by Tocardo.
The construction of the storm surge barrier has led to sand hunger within the basin and erosion of the tidal flats. The tidal flats are important for coastal protection, local ecology, recreation, shipping and fishery. Implementation of more turbines is expected to lead to an additional deterioration in tidal flat area, which is undesirable.
The research questions which have been formulated are:
- Which hypotheses can be formulated regarding the influence of tidal energy extraction on the governing processes in tidal flat development based on scientific knowledge?
- How can modeling tools be applied to accurately represent the influence of tidal energy extraction on the hydrodynamics and morphodynamic processes to verify these hypotheses?
How are the hydrodynamics affected with increasing tidal energy extraction and different positioning of tidal turbine arrays?
How are the sediment dynamics affected with increasing tidal energy extraction and different positioning of tidal turbine arrays?
Which configurations of tidal turbine arrays can be implemented such that their combined effects remain below the threshold of acceptable erosion rates?
Currently literature review is still being performed
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