A 3-Dimensional Planning Method for Tidal Current Power Generation Farms Considering Complex Submarine Terrains

To fully consider the impacts of complex submarine terrains and ensure the profitability of tidal current power generation farms (TCPGFs), a 3-dimensional (3D) planning method for TCPGFs is proposed to simultaneously determine the tidal current turbine (TCT) layout and electrical collector system (ECS) planning schemes. Based on the limited observed data, a 3D submarine terrain modeling method is first developed by combining the regular square grid method and the inverse distance weighted interpolation method. According to the fluid mass conservation law and the conservation of fluid momentum, a 3D wake effect model is proposed to simulate the distribution of tidal current velocity considering complex submarine terrains. A bilevel-based 3D planning model is presented to coordinate the TCT layout and ECS planning scheme. Finally, the effectiveness and adaptability of the proposed method are demonstrated using the data of two TCPGFs located respectively in America and France. The results show that a complex submarine terrain will lead to additional ECS investment costs but more power production, lower TCT installation costs and less levelized cost of energy (LCOE).