Author(s): Andrew Cornett; Thierry Faure

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Keywords: Hydrokinetic energy; Resource assessment; Hydrodynamic modeling; St-Lawrence River and Estuary

Abstract: High-resolution 2-D numerical models have been developed to simulate the flow in the St. Lawrence River in eastern Canada between Cornwall and Montreal, and downstream from Sorel all the way toÎle d’Anticosti in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, a distance well over 1, 000 km. The models have been employed to predict the variation in flow conditions over a typical year, including the combined effects of time-varying river discharge and tide. The model outputs have been analyzed to obtain detailed predictions of the scale of the hydrokinetic energy resources, their spatial distribution, and the character of their temporal variability. The hydrodynamic impacts of producing power using hydrokinetic turbines at a promising site near Cornwall Ontario are modelled and assessed. Substantial hydrokinetic energy resources occur at many locations along the River and Estuary. Unfortunately, some of these high energy sites are located in the main navigation channel where energy production using hydrokinetic turbines may be limited due to conflicts with shipping.

DOI:

Year: 2015