ABPmer develops Western Isles Tidal Model
November 26, 2010
ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd (ABPmer), a leading provider of specialist support to the marine renewables sector, has developed a model which offers a detailed description of the hydrodynamic regime across the Western Isles and Northern Ireland territorial waters.
The ABPmer Western Isles Model has been established to offer an accurate representation of tidal flows and can be used to assess areas of interest for potential tidal resource development.
The model grid has been deliberately designed to enable a detailed description in locations of high flows. This has been achieved by applying a high resolution flexi-mesh around headlands and through narrow channels. The model offers the ability to improve the mapping of spatial extents of tidal stream resource sites and can also be applied in support of project consenting and design requirements.
Dr. Claire Hinton, ABPmer’s Senior Marine Renewables Consultant based in Aberdeen said, “ This initiative compliments our earlier work in developing the Atlas of UK Marine Renewable Energy Resources and provides an order of magnitude enhancement in our ability to identify and map sites of high flows for potential exploitation by tidal stream devices.
We have taken this initiative in recognition of the emerging opportunities becoming available in this area of strategic interest. The next stage is to publish an overview of this work on the Atlas website ( www.renewables-atlas.info ) ”.
The Western Isles Model compliments ABPmer’s expanding suite of services available to the renewable industry, which has recently been enhanced with a metocean forecasting tool: SEASTATES ( http://www.seastates.net ) and underwater noise services.
ABPmer is a leading provider of specialist advice and technical expertise to the marine renewable energy sector. The organisation has undertaken work for developers as well as led several strategic reviews including the appropriate assessments associated with The Crown Estate’s recent Pentland Firth leasing round and offshore wind in Scotland.
Enquiries:
Tracey Hewett
ABPmer Communications
Tel: 02380 711840
