TIDAL POWER GENERATION IN GAROLIM BAY, KOREA

Abstract

Among the ocean energy, tidal power generation has a great advantage on large development possibilities despite of its huge construction cost and difficulty in finding an applicable location. Furthermore, once tidal power generation is developed, various developmental benefits are expected which are not only producing semi-permanent energy but also gaining a bridge role, tourism resource effects, adjustability of flood inundation inside the bay and other multi development effects(Roger H. Charlier.,2003, John Twidell, 2006). Nevertheless, unfavorable impacts on the bay environmental have also been pointed out. The environmental problems include mud flat extinction and marine eco-system disruption. The participation of local residents is essential to resolve ecological and socioeconomic issues. In this study, the feasibility of tidal power generation is examined by reviewing the hydraulic characteristics of a target area in the Garorim bay on the west coast of Korea.