Harnessing the Tides: Siting and Monitoring a New Technology

Abstract

The currents that result from the daily rise and fall of the tides are a potential source of clean, renewable energy for coastal communities. Tidal In-Stream Energy Conversion, or TISEC, uses submerged turbines, with no surface expression and minimal effects on the marine environment. Work is ongoing at the UW branch of the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center to establish best-practices for choosing TISEC locations and monitoring this technology. Two pilot projects in Puget Sound are proposed as early applications of this research.