TY - JOUR

T1 - Resource characterization of a commercial tidal stream energy site: Morlais, Irish Sea

AU - Chisholm, Jude

AU - Roberts, Michael

AU - Powell, Ben

AU - Rowlands, Steve

AU - Robins, Peter

AU - Roome, Edward

AU - Hughes, Peter

AU - Owen, Aled

AU - Milford, Charlie

AU - Amjadian, Pegah

AU - Neill, Simon

PY - 2025/4/5

Y1 - 2025/4/5

N2 - Tidal stream energy conversion is an attractive renewable energy option due to the predictability of tides and high energy density. Yet, before sites can be exploited to their full potential, detailed resource characterization is required to optimize device selection and array configuration, and to minimize environmental impacts. This study focuses on the Morlais tidal energy site in North Wales, where developers have been awarded 38 MW of tidal stream generation capacity by the UK Government. The study analyses sea bed and water column data collected across the site over the past decade, including multibeam echosounder data, multiple acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) time series, meteorological and wave data. Additionally, high-resolution tidal and wave models are applied to further characterize the spatio-temporal variability. The undisturbed power density exceeds at Morlais, with the most energetic locations closest to the shore — facilitating power export to the grid. There is significant interaction of waves and currents across the site. However, this mainly influences wave properties, which could affect maintenance of moorings or devices (due to increased wave steepness), rather than directly influencing the tidal energy resource. There are variations in flood/ebb asymmetry between ADCP moorings, and this is relatively strong at some locations.

AB - Tidal stream energy conversion is an attractive renewable energy option due to the predictability of tides and high energy density. Yet, before sites can be exploited to their full potential, detailed resource characterization is required to optimize device selection and array configuration, and to minimize environmental impacts. This study focuses on the Morlais tidal energy site in North Wales, where developers have been awarded 38 MW of tidal stream generation capacity by the UK Government. The study analyses sea bed and water column data collected across the site over the past decade, including multibeam echosounder data, multiple acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) time series, meteorological and wave data. Additionally, high-resolution tidal and wave models are applied to further characterize the spatio-temporal variability. The undisturbed power density exceeds at Morlais, with the most energetic locations closest to the shore — facilitating power export to the grid. There is significant interaction of waves and currents across the site. However, this mainly influences wave properties, which could affect maintenance of moorings or devices (due to increased wave steepness), rather than directly influencing the tidal energy resource. There are variations in flood/ebb asymmetry between ADCP moorings, and this is relatively strong at some locations.

U2 - 10.1016/j.renene.2025.122952

DO - 10.1016/j.renene.2025.122952

M3 - Article

VL - 247

JO - Renewable Energy

JF - Renewable Energy

SN - 0960-1481

M1 - 122952

ER -