Initial selection of tidal stream energy sites is primarily based on identifying areas with the maximum current speeds. However, optimal design and deployment of turbines requires detailed investigations of the temporal variability of the available resource, focusing on areas with reduced variability, and hence the potential for more continuous energy supply. These aspects are investigated here for some of the most promising sites for tidal array development across the north-western European shelf seas: the Alderney Race, the Fromveur Strait, the Pentland Firth and the channels of Orkney. Particular attention was dedicated to asymmetry between the flood and ebb phases of the tidal cycle (due to the phase relationship between M2 and M4 constituents), and spring-neap variability of the available resource (due to M2 and S2 compound tides). A series of high-resolution models were exploited to (i) produce a detailed harmonic database of these three components, and (ii) characterize, using energy resource metrics, temporal variability of the available power density. There was a clear contrast between the Alderney Race, with reduced temporal variability over semi-diurnal and fortnightly time scales, and sites in western Brittany and North Scotland which, due to increased variability, appeared less attractive for optimal energy conversion. This article is part of the theme issue ‘New insights on tidal dynamics and tidal energy harvesting in the Alderney Race’.

中文翻译：

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西北欧潮汐能的时空变化

潮汐流能量站点的初始选择主要基于识别具有最大流速的区域。然而，涡轮机的优化设计和部署需要对可用资源的时间变异性进行详细调查，重点关注变异性降低的区域，因此需要更持续的能源供应潜力。此处针对欧洲西北部陆架海中一些最有希望开发潮汐阵列的地点进行了这些方面的调查：奥尔德尼岛、弗洛弗尔海峡、彭特兰湾和奥克尼海峡。特别关注潮汐周期的洪水和退潮阶段之间的不对称性（由于 M2 和 M4 成分之间的相位关系）以及可用资源的春季-小潮变化（由于 M2 和 S2 复合潮汐）。一系列高分辨率模型被用于 (i) 生成这三个组件的详细谐波数据库，以及 (ii) 使用能源指标表征可用功率密度的时间变化。奥尔德尼种族之间存在明显的对比，半日和两周时间尺度上的时间变异性降低，而布列塔尼西部和苏格兰北部的地点由于变异性增加，对最佳能量转换的吸引力似乎较小。本文是主题问题“奥尔德尼岛竞赛中潮汐动力学和潮汐能收集的新见解”的一部分。奥尔德尼种族之间存在明显的对比，半日和两周时间尺度上的时间变异性降低，而布列塔尼西部和苏格兰北部的地点由于变异性增加，对最佳能量转换的吸引力似乎较小。本文是主题问题“奥尔德尼岛竞赛中潮汐动力学和潮汐能收集的新见解”的一部分。奥尔德尼种族之间存在明显的对比，半日和两周时间尺度上的时间变异性降低，而布列塔尼西部和苏格兰北部的地点由于变异性增加，对最佳能量转换的吸引力似乎较小。本文是主题问题“奥尔德尼岛竞赛中潮汐动力学和潮汐能收集的新见解”的一部分。