Severn Barrage and other tidal energy options

Afghanistan hosts the Hindu Kush, an extension of the Himalaya mountains that act as water sources for five major rivers flowing through Afghanistan. Most of these rivers provide promise for the construction of water dams and installment of micro hydropower plants (MHP). Although civil war and political strife continue to threaten the country for more than four decades, the Afghan government introduced strategic plans for the development of the country. In 2016 Afghanistan introduced the Afghanistan National Peace and Development (ANPD) Framework at Brussels de-signed to support Afghanistan’s progress towards achieving the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). This study discussed the 7th Goal (ensuring access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy for all) and 8th Goal (promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all) alignment in Afghanistan. The Afghan gov-ernment acknowledges its responsibility to provide electricity for all of its citizens, but this can only be achieved if the government can secure a reliable source of energy. Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain provides a challenge to build a central energy distribution system. Therefore this study looks for alternative solutions to the energy problems in Afghanistan and explores feasibility of micro-hydropower plant installations in remote areas. This study evaluated socio-economic im-pacts of micro-hydropower plants in the life of average residents. We focused on one example of a micro hydropower plant located in Parwan, conducted interviews with local residents, and gath-ered on-site data. The findings in this study can help policymakers to analyze the effects of devel-opment projects in the social and economic life of residents. It will encourage the government and hopefully the private sector to invest in decentralized energy options, while the country is facing an ever-growing energy demand.

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Sink or Swim [tidal energy]

Engineering & Technology ◽

10.1049/et.2018.0703 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 36-39

Author(s):

R. Pool

Keyword(s):

Tidal Energy

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Providing ecological context to anthropogenic subsea noise: Assessing listening space reductions of marine mammals from tidal energy devices

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews ◽

10.1016/j.rser.2018.12.024 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 103 ◽

pp. 49-57 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Matthew K. Pine ◽

Pál Schmitt ◽

Ross M. Culloch ◽

Lilian Lieber ◽

Louise T. Kregting

Keyword(s):

Marine Mammals ◽

Tidal Energy ◽

Ecological Context ◽

Energy Devices

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Passive flow control mechanisms with bioinspired flexible blades in cross-flow tidal turbines

Experiments in Fluids ◽

10.1007/s00348-021-03186-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 62 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Stefan Hoerner ◽

Shokoofeh Abbaszadeh ◽

Olivier Cleynen ◽

Cyrille Bonamy ◽

Thierry Maître ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Turbine Blades ◽

Cross Flow ◽

Tidal Energy ◽

Control Mechanisms ◽

Passive Flow Control ◽

Turbine Efficiency ◽

Tidal Turbines ◽

Passive Flow ◽

Axial Turbines ◽

The Cost

Abstract State-of-the-art technologies for wind and tidal energy exploitation focus mostly on axial turbines. However, cross-flow hydrokinetic tidal turbines possess interesting features, such as higher area-based power density in array installations and shallow water, as well as a generally simpler design. Up to now, the highly unsteady flow conditions and cyclic blade stall have hindered deployment at large scales because of the resulting low single-turbine efficiency and fatigue failure challenges. Concepts exist which overcome these drawbacks by actively controlling the flow, at the cost of increased mechatronical complexity. Here, we propose a bioinspired approach with hyperflexible turbine blades. The rotor naturally adapts to the flow through deformation, reducing flow separation and stall in a passive manner. This results in higher efficiency and increased turbine lifetime through decreased structural loads, without compromising on the simplicity of the design. Graphic abstract

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