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Electrical power generation from ocean currents in the Straits of Florida: Some environmental considerations

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  • Finkl, Charles W.
  • Charlier, Roger

Abstract

Ocean currents contain a remarkable amount of kinetic energy and have potential worldwide capability. Initial tests to harness current power focus on the Straits of Florida where the Florida Current has a total flow capacity of about 30 x 106 m3 s-1. Generation of clean electricity from ocean currents off southeast Florida is based on a power extractor comprising open-center turbine technology. This innovative turbine provides safe passage for fish and other aquatic species. The water-column array of energy production units (EPUs) will have a 350 km2 footprint, based on a 600 m (10 rotor diameters) downstream separation distance between EPUs with a lateral separation of 400 m. Water depths for the EPU field are in the range of 100-500 m. With such a large area of water column and benthic habitat utilized, environmental concerns must be overcome, including routing of transmission lines to shore. Risks and vulnerabilities of the proposed ocean current generated electricity include failure of individual EPUs and damage to sensitive coastal marine environments during installation.

Suggested Citation

  • Finkl, Charles W. & Charlier, Roger, 2009. "Electrical power generation from ocean currents in the Straits of Florida: Some environmental considerations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 13(9), pages 2597-2604, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:13:y:2009:i:9:p:2597-2604
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Charlier, Roger H., 2003. "Sustainable co-generation from the tides:: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 7(3), pages 187-213, June.
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    2. Tsao, Che-Chih & Feng, An-Hsuan & Hsieh, Chieh & Fan, Kang-Hsien, 2017. "Marine current power with Cross-stream Active Mooring: Part I," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 144-154.
    3. Islam, A.B.M. Saiful & Jameel, Mohammed & Jumaat, Mohd Zamin & Shirazi, S.M. & Salman, Firas A., 2012. "Review of offshore energy in Malaysia and floating Spar platform for sustainable exploration," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(8), pages 6268-6284.
    4. Hammar, Linus & Ehnberg, Jimmy & Mavume, Alberto & Cuamba, Boaventura C. & Molander, Sverker, 2012. "Renewable ocean energy in the Western Indian Ocean," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(7), pages 4938-4950.
    5. Shirasawa, Katsutoshi & Tokunaga, Kohei & Iwashita, Hidetsugu & Shintake, Tsumoru, 2016. "Experimental verification of a floating ocean-current turbine with a single rotor for use in Kuroshio currents," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 189-195.
    6. Kirinus, Eduardo de Paula & Oleinik, Phelype Haron & Costi, Juliana & Marques, Wiliam Correa, 2018. "Long-term simulations for ocean energy off the Brazilian coast," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 364-382.
    7. Rahman, Abidur & Farrok, Omar & Haque, Md Mejbaul, 2022. "Environmental impact of renewable energy source based electrical power plants: Solar, wind, hydroelectric, biomass, geothermal, tidal, ocean, and osmotic," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    8. Chuhua Jiang & Xuedao Shu & Junhua Chen & Lingjie Bao & Hao Li, 2020. "Research on Performance Evaluation of Tidal Energy Turbine under Variable Velocity," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-14, November.
    9. Chang, Yu-Chia & Chu, Peter C. & Tseng, Ruo-Shan, 2015. "Site selection of ocean current power generation from drifter measurements," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 737-745.
    10. Goh, Hooi-Bein & Lai, Sai-Hin & Jameel, Mohammed & Teh, Hee-Min, 2020. "Potential of coastal headlands for tidal energy extraction and the resulting environmental effects along Negeri Sembilan coastlines: A numerical simulation study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).

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