Tidal Energy in India

Potential, Projects & Developments

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Table of Contents 1. Introduction to Tidal Energy..................................................................................... 2

1.1 Pros & Cons of Tidal Power ................................................................................... 2

1.2 Types of Tidal Power Plants .................................................................................. 3

2. Global Tidal Energy Scenario .................................................................................. 4

2.1 First Tidal Power Plant in World............................................................................. 4

2.2 Largest Tidal Power Station in World ..................................................................... 5

2.3 Tidal Power Stations in World ................................................................................ 5

3. Indian Tidal Energy Scenario ................................................................................... 5

3.1 Tidal Energy Potential in India ............................................................................... 6

4. Tidal Power Projects in India ................................................................................... 6

4.1 Demonstration Project at Sunderbans ................................................................... 6

4.2 Tidal Power Projects in Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat ....................................................... 7

List of Figures Figure 1: Tidal Power Plant ............................................................................................. 2

Figure 2: Pros & Cons of Tidal Energy ............................................................................ 3

Figure 3: Types of Tidal Power Plants............................................................................. 4

List of Tables Table 1: List of Tidal Power Stations in World ................................................................. 5

Table 2: Tidal Energy Potential in India ........................................................................... 6

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1. Introduction to Tidal Energy Tidal energy is one of many forms of hydropower generation. It comes from the

gravitational forces of the Sun and the Moon on the Earth’s bodies of water, creating

periodic shifts in these bodies of water. These shifts are called tides. The tide moves a

huge amount of water twice each day.

Tides work like a hydro-electric scheme, except that the dam is much bigger. A huge

dam (called a barrage) is built across a river estuary. When the tide goes in and out, the

water flows through tunnels in the dam. The ebb (tide moving out to sea) and flow of the

tides can be used to turn a turbine.

Figure 1: Tidal Power Plant

1.1 Pros & Cons of Tidal Power

Tidal power has many advantages as compared to other forms of renewable energy.

Tides are totally predictable. It is completely carbon neutral like wind or hydro energy.

A major drawback of tidal power stations is that they can only generate when the tide is

flowing in or out. In other words, tidal power plants work only for 10 hours each day.

Other drawbacks of tidal power include higher cost of installation, environmental

impacts on local area, flooding and ecological changes, and the inflexible generation

schedule.

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Figure 2: Pros & Cons of Tidal Energy

1.2 Types of Tidal Power Plants

Tidal Barrages

These involve the creation of huge concrete dams with sluices. Tidal barrages make

use of the potential energy in the difference in height between high and low tides.

Tidal Stream Generators

Tidal stream generators make use of the kinetic energy of moving water to power

turbines. These are very similar to the principles in wind power generation – water flows

across blades which turn a turbine much like how wind turns blades for wind power

turbines.

Dynamic Tidal Power

This technology is not currently commercial viable, but UK, Korea, and China have

invested heavily in its research. It involves a partial dam which raises the tidal height

and several hydropower generators. The differences in height between the head of the

dam and the low tide coast force water through the generator, much like a traditional

hydropower dam.

Advantages

Predictable unlike solar or wind energy

Clean and environment-friendly

High opportunities in R&D

Disadvantages

Work for only about 10 hours a day

High cost of installation and generation

Flooding and ecological changes

Limited availability of tidal sites

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Figure 3: Types of Tidal Power Plants

2. Global Tidal Energy Scenario Tidal power is not yet widely used around the world, though it has potential for future

electricity generation. Tides are more predictable than wind energy and solar power.

Among sources of renewable energy, tidal power has relatively high cost and limited

availability of sites with sufficiently high tidal ranges or current velocities.

Many recent technological developments and improvements, both in design (dynamic

tidal power, tidal lagoons) and turbine technology (new axial turbines, cross flow

turbines), indicate that the total availability of tidal power may be much higher than

previously assumed.

2.1 First Tidal Power Plant in World

La Rance Tidal Power Station (240 MW) is the world's first large-scale tidal power

plant in France that became operational in 1966. The power station is located on the

estuary of the Rance River, in Brittany, France. It is also the second largest tidal power

station in the world, in terms of installed capacity, after the Sihwa Lake Tidal Power

Station.

The construction of the barrage was started in 1960 and consists of a 330m long dam

with a 22km2 basin. The effective tidal range is 8m. The work was completed after six

years in 1966 when 24 turbines, rated at 10 MW each, were connected to the French

power network with a 225 kV transmission line.

Tidal Energy Technologies

Tidal Barrages Tidal Stream

Generators

Dynamic Tidal

Power

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2.2 Largest Tidal Power Station in World

Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station, in South Korea, is the world's largest tidal power

installation, with a total power output capacity of 254 MW, surpassing the 240 MW

Rance Tidal Power Station after 45 years. It is operated by the Korean Water Resource

Corporation. Mean operating tidal range is 5.6m, with a spring tidal range of 7.8m.

2.3 Tidal Power Stations in World

The major tidal power projects are in operation in South Korea (254 MW), France (240

MW), and Canada (20 MW). France, Russia, China, Canada, United Kingdom and

South Korea have set up tidal power projects. The total installed capacity of tidal power

projects in these countries is about 520 MW.

Table 1: List of Tidal Power Stations in World

Power Station Capacity (MW) Country Year

Sihwa Lake 254 South Korea 2011

La Rance 240 France 1966

Annapolis Royal 20 Canada 1984

Jiangxia 3.2 China 1980

Kislaya Guba 1.7 Russia 1968

Uldolmok 1.5 South Korea 2009

Strangford SeaGen 1.2 United Kingdom 2008

Strangford Lough SeaGen

It is the world's first commercial-scale tidal turbine based on tidal stream generator that

was installed in Strangford Narrows in Northern Ireland in 2008. The prototype SeaGen

turbine produces 1.2 MW with currents of 2.4m/s or more. The capacity factor exceeds

60%.

3. Indian Tidal Energy Scenario Tidal Energy is one of the new and emerging technologies, which is commercially not

viable and still in Research & Development (R&D) stage. India has a long coastline with

the estuaries and gulfs where tides are strong enough to move turbines for electrical

power generation.

The Gulf of Cambay and the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat on the west coast have the

maximum tidal range of 11m and 8m with average tidal range of 6.77m and 5.23m

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respectively. The Ganges Delta in the Sundarbans is approximately 5m with an average

tidal range of 2.97m.

No tidal power generation plant has been installed in India due to its high cost of

generation of electricity and lack of techno economic viability.

3.1 Tidal Energy Potential in India

In 1975, studies were carried out by the erstwhile Central Water and Power

Commission (CWPC). As per the studies, the Gulf of Kutch and Gulf of Cambay in

Gujarat and Sunderbans area in West Bengal are the only potential sites in India for the

development of Tidal Energy Projects.

In eighties, Central Electricity Authority (CEA) undertook a study for the assessment of

tidal energy potential in India. According to the study, the identified economic power

potential is of the order of 8000 MW with about 7000 MW in the Gulf of Cambay, about

1200 MW in the Gulf of Kachchh in the State of Gujarat and about 100 MW in the

Gangetic Delta in the Sunderbans region in the State of West Bengal.

Table 2: Tidal Energy Potential in India

Region State Tidal Potential (MW)

Gulf of Cambay (Khambhat) Gujarat 7000

Gulf of Kutch Gujarat 1200

Gangatic Delta, Sunderbans West Bengal 100

4. Tidal Power Projects in India Initial attempts to establish tidal power plants in India were made in 1980s. Project

reports on tidal power in Panchapada River in Balasour District of Odisha and in the

Andaman & Nicobar Islands were prepared in the years 1983 and 1992 respectively. A

detailed Project Report for a 3 MW Tidal Power Plant at Durgaduani creek in

Sundarbans area was also prepared.

4.1 Demonstration Project at Sunderbans

The West Bengal Renewable Energy Development Agency (WBREDA) submitted a

Detailed Project Report (DPR) in 2001 for setting up a 3.65 MW capacity tidal power

project at Durgaduani Creek in Sundarbans Island of West Bengal. This report was

examined by an Expert Group and WBREDA was advised to obtain required statutory

clearances and revise the cost estimates. These details were submitted to the Ministry

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in June, 2006. The revised estimated cost submitted for the project was INR 40.15

crores.

Also, WBREDA entered into a MoU with the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation

Limited (NHPC), Faridabad for updating of the DPR (Detailed Project Report) and its

execution. The updated DPR prepared by NHPC was received by the Ministry in

November, 2007.

As per this DPR, the project capacity was raised to 3.75 MW (earlier it was 3.65 MW)

with cost projections of INR 53.98 crores and project completion period of 33 months

from the date of sanction. The Ministry has agreed to it in principle. In February 2008,

under the Tidal Energy Programme, the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE)

sanctioned a demonstration project for setting up a 3.75 MW tidal power plant at

Durgaduani Creek in Sunderbans, West Bengal.

The NHPC Limited was given responsibility to execute the project. The total estimated

project cost was INR 48 crores, out of which 90% (INR 43.20 crores) was to be shared

by the MNRE and the remaining 10% (INR 4.80 crores) by the Government of West

Bengal.

However, the project has been discontinued due to very high tender cost amounting to

INR 238 crores against originally estimated cost of INR 48 crores.

4.2 Tidal Power Projects in Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat

Tidal Power Project (900 MW) in Kutch

A committee was constituted under the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) on the 900

MW Kutch Tidal Power Project for estimating the cost of the project. A techno-economic

feasibility study was carried out by the CEA in 1988 for a 900 MW Tidal Power Project.

A revised estimate of INR 6184 crores was worked out for the execution of this project

in 1993.

A feasibility study for setting up this power project in Kutch district of Gujarat was

conducted by National Hydro Power Corporation Ltd. (NHPC) in the early nineties.

However, the project was not found to be commercially viable due to high capital cost

as well as high cost of generation of electricity.

Mandavi Tidal Power Project (250 MW) in Kutch

In January 2011, Government of Gujarat signed a Memorandum of Understanding

(MoU) for establishing a 250 MW tidal power project in Gulf of Kutch with Gujarat Power

Corporation Ltd. (GPCL) Vadodara, Atlantis Resource Corporation, United Kingdom and

Perfect Mining Energy Solutions (PMES), Singapore.

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A Special Purpose Vehicle was incorporated in May, 2011 and GPCL has taken up a 50

MW tidal power project at Mandavi in district Kutch in the first phase. GPCL has made a

request for grant of INR 1035 crores for the tidal power plant to Ministry of New and

Renewable Energy (MNRE).

The experience gained in the above project will decide the future course of action for

the development of tidal energy programme in India.

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