Tidal range schemes can protect estuaries and coastal areas from the consequences of sea level rise in line with Lancaster researchers.
David Vandercruyssen, Simon Baker, David Howard and George Aggidis from the School of Engineering say that tidal range schemes are vital to guard habitats, housing and businesses from a rising sea level estimated to be over one metre inside 80 years.
Postgraduate researcher David Vandercruyssen said: “High tides could be limited to existing levels just by closing sluices and turbines and existing low tide levels could be maintained by pumping.”
Professor George Aggidis, Head of Energy Engineering, said: “Development of estuarine barrages has been hampered by misconceptions about their operation and fears of disturbance of the ecologically sensitive intertidal areas.
“Our studies show that with modern technology and operating procedures, estuarine barrages are the one practical technique to protect these vital habitats. Coastal lagoons have also been proposed for several locations around Britain’s coast. Schemes will provide jobs in construction and manufacturing for generations to return in addition to opportunities for transport, communication, conservation and recreation. Within the long-term they may provide reliable power with reduced costs.”
Their research, published in Energy, follows on from earlier Lancaster University research right into a combined tidal range electricity generation and price model demonstrating the viability of tidal range energy within the UK. This showed the way it is feasible to take care of the total tidal range inside existing dams or weirs.
Professor Aggidis said: “Great Britain has the second largest tidal range on the planet and major barrages have been considered since Victorian times. Globally, there are two large scale schemes currently in operation, La Rance in France which was accomplished in 1967 and Lake Sihwa in South Korea from 2011; each schemes generate significant quantities of low cost sustainable electricity.”
