Tidal current energy potential assessment by a two dimensional computational fluid dynamics model: The case of Avilés port (Spain) Juan Manuel González-Caballín a , Eduardo Álvarez b,⇑ , Antonio José Guttiérrez-Trashorras a , Antonio Navarro-Manso b , Joaquín Fernández b , Eduardo Blanco a a University of Oviedo, Department of Energy, Campus de Gijón, 33204 Gijón, Spain b University of Oviedo, Department of Energy, Campus de Barredo, 33600 Mieres, Spain article info Article history: Received 4 February 2016 Received in revised form 25 March 2016 Accepted 18 April 2016 Available online 20 April 2016 Keywords: Tidal energy Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Averaged velocity High resolution abstract Tidal energy has significant potential yet to be developed. One of the key areas of the research lines being developed is the ability to perform accurate computational models in order to make a full appraisal of kinetic energy potential in different areas through tide movements. So far, due to the limitations of com- putational resources and the extension of the geographical domains, existing models have manly used simplifications such as low resolution mesh sizes and velocity profile approximations in the vertical dimension. The investigation put forward includes a high resolution two dimensional equivalent model of the zone studied using a longitudinal section with depth and length dimensions, as well as a simulation methodology to study the velocity field in different sections. The model can be used in cases of channels of high width compared to the depth. With such data, kinetic power and energy of tidal currents can be predicted. Both, model and methodology have been applied and validated to the specific case of the estu- ary of Avilés port, thereby obtaining a new perspective in the hydrodynamic study as well as a tidal cur- rent energy potential assessment. Ó 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction World energy demand was 21,431 TW h in 2012 [1]. Electricity production from tidal energy has an estimated potential of 22,000 TW h/year [2] worldwide. But currently, applying proven conversion efficiencies, only productions of 1000 TW h/year world- wide [2] and 105.4 TW h/year in Europe [3] (mainly in the UK, France, Ireland, Holland, Germany and Spain) could be at our dis- posal. Despite being a continuous and predictable energy resource, there are still important challenges, such as: tidal conversion sys- tems efficiencies, high investments, operation and maintenance costs and potentially high environmental impact. However, tidal energy potential for the future is now attracting considerable inter- est and investment [4]. The origin of tidal energy emanates from the periodic move- ments of rise and fall in sea water level due to the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun, and their relative position with respect to the earth. These movements produce marine currents near the coast denominated as tidal currents [5]. To date, the majority of energy production comes from marine tidal dams built between 1960 and 1980. The electrical power gen- eration of such dams is obtained by the same principles as hydro- power generation except that the former exploit both tidal flows in opposite directions. Although this technology is already well tested and can be considered reliable, the facilities of this type cause a high environmental impact affecting the ecosystem and involve high construction costs [6]. There are only five tidal dams in oper- ation today: La Range (240 MW) in France, Annapolis (20 MW) in Canada, Kislaya Guba (400 kW) in Russia, Creek Jangxia (500 kW) in China [5] and Sihwa Lake (254 MW) in South Korea [7]. In the last decade, electricity generation in tidal dams has been relegated in favor of new designs of marine current turbines, with similar designs as wind turbines. The first approach was based on relatively high power turbines located in offshore areas to mini- mize environmental impact. These ventures imply high invest- ments and operation and maintenance costs. For this reason, although many prototypes are currently being tested [8,9], there are very few specific installations that obtain power directly from the tidal currents in operation (e.g. Strangford Lough SeaGen in the UK) [10]. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2016.04.060 0196-8904/Ó 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. ⇑ Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: gonzalezsjuan@uniovi.es (J.M. González-Caballín), edualvarez @uniovi.es (E. Álvarez), gutierrezantonio@uniovi.es (A.J. Guttiérrez-Trashorras), navarroantonio@uniovi.es (A. Navarro-Manso), jffrancos@uniovi.es (J. Fernández), eblanco@uniovi.es (E. Blanco). Energy Conversion and Management 119 (2016) 239–245 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Energy Conversion and Management journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/enconman