Renewable Energy Technology Assessments - Kauai Island Utility ...

Kaua’i Island Utility Cooperative
Renewable Energy Technology Assessments
3.0 Renewable Energy Technology
Options
Table 3-25. Tidal Energy Technology Characteristics.
Performance
Typical Duty Cycle Intermediate
Net Plant Capacity, MW 18-40
Capacity Factor, percent 20-25
Economics
Capital Cost, $/kW 3,300-6,800
Fixed O&M, $/kW-yr 7-33
Variable O&M, $/MWh 1-3
Levelized Cost, $/MWh 140-305
Technology Status
Commercial Status Early Commercial
Installed World Capacity, MW 250+
Kauai Potential Poor
Environmental Impact
Utilization of tidal energy for power generation has the environmental advantage
of a zero emission technology. However, the environmental and aesthetic impact that the
facility has on the coastline must be carefully evaluated. The main barriers to the
increased use of tidal energy are the high cost and long period for the construction of the
tidal generating system and concerns about impacts on sensitive estuarine ecosystems.
Kauai Outlook
Tidal energy is a mature renewable energy technology that can provide
competitive power prices with ideal tidal conditions. However, tidal resources on Kauai
are very poor, with summer and winter height differences in the range of 3 feet. 38 Due to
the small tidal changes, development of tidal energy generation facilities would not be
possible in Kauai with current technology.
3.7 Solar
Solar radiation can be captured in numerous ways with a variety of technologies.
The two major groups of technologies are solar photovoltaic and solar thermal.
38 Tide height data obtained from co-ops.nos.noaa.gov
21 March 2005 3-57 Black & Veatch