Hydrodynamic optimization of PowerCone technology for tidal energy applications

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Ocean renewable energy in the form of tides, waves, and offshore wind is one of the most abundant, but relatively untapped, renewable energy sources available. Specifically for tidal energy, recent interest has focused on the development of in-stream energy converters that transform kinetic energy from fast-flowing tidal steams to electricity. In Canada, 190 potential sites have been identified with sufficient power to meet the annual electricity needs of 30.6 million. Minas Passage, located in the Bay of Fundy, is considered one of the world's best tidal energy sites and it has been estimated that this single site could provide sufficient electricity to power 1.4 million Canadian households. With such potential, it is surprising no grid-connected turbines are currently operating in Minas Passage. This is due to the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), which is high in comparison to other renewable sources because turbines must operate in a harsh energetic, turbulent environment. By mimicking nature, Biome Renewables developed a retrofit to existing wind turbine rotors that achieves superior aerodynamic performance. This resulted in a new unofficial world record for full-scale wind turbine efficiency in June 2021 of 52%. The primary objective of the project is to advance this technology for in-stream tidal applications, while simultaneously improving our understanding of tidal turbine performance in realistic ocean environments. This will be achieved using state-of-the-art high-performance computing and hydrodynamic shape optimization. Thereby, reducing the LCOE and increasing turbine reliability, the key barriers to widespread adoption by utility providers. Based on recent cost reductions, future projected costs at 100 MW and 1 GW of installed in-stream tidal are $0.26 and $0.115 per kWh, respectively. This will be achieved through innovation and economies of scale, using scientific evidence gained from research projects such as this one. A 300 MW commercial-scale capacity in Nova Scotia would result in $1.7 billion of GDP, approximately 22,000 full-time equivalent jobs.