TY - JOUR
T1 - Mapping a blue energy future for British Columbia: Creating a holistic framework for tidal stream energy development in remote coastal communities
AU - Richardson, Riley Lindsay
AU - Buckham, Bradley
AU - McWhinnie, Lauren Helen
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors wish to acknowledge the time and collaboration of Aaron Heidt, Berry Wijdeven, Braden Etzerza, Lindsay Galbraith and all other participants who asked to remain anonymous. We also wish to acknowledge Anthony Truelove and Linda Xu for their help implementing their methods and we pass along our sympathies to Linda Xu's family. Thanks to Clayton Hiles for pre-processing the Canadian West Coast Tidal Resource Assessment dataset and to Rosaline Canessa for her input and support in the early stages of research development. Thank you to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada for funding portions of this work.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2022/4
Y1 - 2022/4
N2 - This study develops and implements an interdisciplinary framework to provide a holistic examination of the potential for tidal stream turbines (TST) to displace diesel generated electricity in remote coastal First Nations communities in British Columbia. In doing so it seeks to answer the following research questions: what is the distribution of practical tidal resources in the study region, for which communities is tidal energy a potentially viable electricity source, and what are the benefits and challenges of TST development. GIS Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis and interviews with high level marine spatial planning decision makers are used to identify practical resource sites, bridge knowledge gaps, assess views towards TST development, and understand the desired characteristics of community energy systems. Additional techno-economic criteria for tidal site identification are included to identify communities that may be candidates for TST integration. Results illustrate the need for information provision to communities from resource quantification to characteristics of renewable energy technologies; self sufficiency as being the primary electrification driver; and funding/human resource capacity as being substantial barriers to development. Approximately 89.8 km2 of practical tidal resource is identified, with ≈21.9 km2 of techno-economically feasible practical resource in proximity to nine communities. Four communities appear to be promising candidates for tidal development, and overall results indicate significant interest within the study region for TST development. The interdisciplinary framework presented here provides a methodology that can be adapted and implemented in other jurisdictions to identify practical resources and incorporate social dimensions into MRE decision making.
AB - This study develops and implements an interdisciplinary framework to provide a holistic examination of the potential for tidal stream turbines (TST) to displace diesel generated electricity in remote coastal First Nations communities in British Columbia. In doing so it seeks to answer the following research questions: what is the distribution of practical tidal resources in the study region, for which communities is tidal energy a potentially viable electricity source, and what are the benefits and challenges of TST development. GIS Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis and interviews with high level marine spatial planning decision makers are used to identify practical resource sites, bridge knowledge gaps, assess views towards TST development, and understand the desired characteristics of community energy systems. Additional techno-economic criteria for tidal site identification are included to identify communities that may be candidates for TST integration. Results illustrate the need for information provision to communities from resource quantification to characteristics of renewable energy technologies; self sufficiency as being the primary electrification driver; and funding/human resource capacity as being substantial barriers to development. Approximately 89.8 km2 of practical tidal resource is identified, with ≈21.9 km2 of techno-economically feasible practical resource in proximity to nine communities. Four communities appear to be promising candidates for tidal development, and overall results indicate significant interest within the study region for TST development. The interdisciplinary framework presented here provides a methodology that can be adapted and implemented in other jurisdictions to identify practical resources and incorporate social dimensions into MRE decision making.
KW - GIS
KW - Interdisciplinary analysis
KW - Marine renewable energy
KW - Marine spatial planning
KW - Multi-criteria decision analysis
KW - Net-zero
KW - Remote communities
KW - Resource characterization
KW - Stakeholder engagement
KW - Sustainable development
KW - Tidal stream energy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85121987680&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.rser.2021.112032
DO - 10.1016/j.rser.2021.112032
M3 - Article
SN - 1364-0321
VL - 157
JO - Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
JF - Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
M1 - 112032
ER -