MATCHING TIDAL CURRENT PLANTS TO LOCAL FLOW CONDITIONS

This paper is an outline of a methodology which may be used to optimis e the development of a tidal current resource. The size and potential of the European tidal current energy resource is indicated and a brief description of a potential technology option is given. The overlying principles of resource conversion are discussed and a methodology requ ired to achieve optimal exploitation is presented. Aspects of the meth odology are outlined using examples drawn from tidal current studies i n the European Union (EU). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r eserved.