Electricity Generation from Tidal Power In New Zealand
Why Tidal Power?
Making it work
The Origin of the Energy
Tidal Phases - the terms
Economics
The Political Will
Why Tidal Power?
There are many advantages with tidal power. Firstly the
energy is free. Secondly many settlements in New Zealand started around
harbors so there will be low transmission losses. Thirdly it is reliable,
tides can be predicted many years in advance and they will occur at a given
time. Herein lies the problem. The time that the tidal flow occurs
may not be ideal in as far as demand is concerned. So tidal generation
should be coupled with some form of storage. Hydropower makes an ideal
storage choice. Water or energy could be stored in these damns for times when
power could not be generated at the tidal stations.
Making it work
Listed below are some of the
possible elements that could be used to make tidal power work.
|
Area of Concern |
Contacts |
Website |
|
Project Management, Engineering, Planning |
AEC Professionals Inc |
|
|
Tidal Power Expertise |
Mulgor Consulting Ltd |
|
|
Generating Equipment |
There are many sources of equipment |
General Electric, Siemens and |
|
Financially Interested Party |
State Owned Enterprises |
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/State-Owned%20Enterprises%20of%20New%20Zealand |
The Origin of the Energy
The origin of tidal energy is the rotation of the Earth. As the
Earth rotates on its axis the moon-facing tides sweep around
the globe. This causes friction, so earth's rotation is very gradually slowing.
The moon's orbit will also be affected. The moon is pushed away from earth by 3.8cm/year in order to conserve the angular
momentum lost by earth's reduced spin. This will reduce the moon's orbital
velocity, and in turn very slowly increase the length of a lunar month.
Tidal Phases
Terms are often used such as neap and spring tides. The diagram
below helps explain these.
Economics
The final price paid for electricity in New Zealand
varies. Here is a site that lists the price that retailers pay the
generators for electricity:
http://www.comitfree.co.nz/fta/ftaPage.pricesMain
Tidal power would have to
compete with electricity generated from LPG imported into NZ from Australia or
Indonesia at about $US5- per million BTUs.
If the plant has a heat rate of 7,000,000 BTUs per mega watt hour
(best combined cycle) then the cost of the imported energy to generate power is
$US35 per mega watt. Capital and other operating costs for a combined
cycle plants are about $US25 per mega watt so the cost of power is about $US60
per mega watt. This is the value of electricity at the generation station.
To get it to customers one has to add the cost of transmission and distribution.
The above site lists the price that the retailers pay. These prices
were current in May 2004.
The
Political Will
Who owns the hydro generation plant in New Zealand? The
government. So for any chance of this idea getting off the ground it is
the government who will need to provide the leadership.
Note: linked individuals and organizations don't necessarily
share or agree with the views expressed on this page.