Assesment of Energy Production Potential from Tidal Stream Currents in Indonesia

A multi-criteria assessment methodology that accounts for physical and environmental constraints is applied to assess the tidal stream power potential at eleven straits between Indian Ocean and inner Indonesian seas. In this paper, preliminary results of an assessment at the Strait of Larantuka are presented. The tidal stream power potential is evaluated on the basis of a calibrated and validated numerical model. It was found that the average tidal stream power density at some of the locations can exceed about 6kw/m2 and the practically exploitable energy yield from the Strait of Larantuka is about 20Gwh per year.