Evaluation of the Hydrodynamic Impacts of Tidal Turbine Arrays in Jiaozhou Bay

In this paper, a hydrodynamic model of Jiaozhou Bay was developed using the Regional Ocean Modeling System and validated against observed tidal levels and current data. The model accurately characterizes the tidal and current features of the region. Based on this model, the spatial and temporal dist...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chao Zhang, Xiuyan Yang, Yuan Jiang, Wei Zhao, Junyu Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1312/13/1/128
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:In this paper, a hydrodynamic model of Jiaozhou Bay was developed using the Regional Ocean Modeling System and validated against observed tidal levels and current data. The model accurately characterizes the tidal and current features of the region. Based on this model, the spatial and temporal distributions of flow fields and tidal energy resources were analyzed. A 100-turbine tidal power plant was simulated utilizing a momentum-based approach that accounts for resource distribution, bathymetry, topography, and turbine parameters. The resulting hydrodynamic changes, including velocity variations peaking at 0.5 m/s within the turbine deployment zone and tidal level shifts confined to the bay (maximum change in ~10 cm), emphasize the importance of localized environmental assessments. However, the findings also highlight broader considerations for the sustainable development of tidal energy in semi-enclosed bays worldwide, where strategic siting and design can mitigate larger ecological disturbances. These findings may provide a scientific foundation for balancing clean energy extraction with minimal environmental impact, thus contributing to global efforts to develop more resilient and sustainable coastal energy systems.
ISSN:2077-1312