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Tidal stream generation is a form of renewable energy that is predicable but variable in nature. The paper initially identifies the tidal resource around Ireland, utilizing the most appropriate and developed tidal energy technology, thus providing a potential magnitude and output profile. Methods of deployment and control, including the down rating of the generator relative to turbine size and operational output reduction, are suggested to reduce capital cost, increase the capacity factor and reduce the impact on the grid system. The combination of the potential resource and the application of control methods provide the basis to study the effect on the grid system in terms of ramp rate and the demand profile. The same inputs also provide the ability to analyze generator characteristics such as the capacity credit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although wave power installations are currently limited in number, the capacity value of wave power is of interest in power system planning. The capacity value of wind power has been studied in previous work, but the value for wave power is not known. Continuous time series characterizing the wave energy resource at multiple sites are generated from raw wave data. These time series are analyzed with a forced outage rate imposed for individual devices, as may be encountered by real wave energy farms. The capacity value of wave power at various sites is evaluated with reference to 500 MW of installed capacity. Portfolios are created, allocating wave power capacity to individual sites, with the impact of geographical aggregation being examined. The inter-annual variation for each portfolio is then determined in order to examine the robustness of the results. Comparison is also made between sites off the west coasts of Ireland and Portugal. The implications for the power system resulting from an increase in generation adequacy are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]