Potential of Tiual Eneigy in Pakistan

Tidal power
Tidal energy, is a Iorm oI hydropower that converts the energy oI tides into electricity or
other useIul Iorms oI power. Although not yet widely used, tidal power has potential Ior
Iuture electricity generation. Tides are more predictable than wind energy and solar power.
Among sources oI renewable energy, tidal power has traditionally suIIered Irom relatively
high cost and limited availability oI sites with suIIiciently high tidal ranges or Ilow
velocities, thus constricting its total availability
TURBINES USE IN TIDAL PPUWER CENRATIUN


1u
Rim Turbine (Copyright Boyle, 1996) Bulb Turbine (Copyright Boyle, 1996)


Ebb generating system with a bulb turbine

Tubular Turbine (Copyright Boyle, 1996)








OCEAA WAJE AAD 1IDE EAERCY PO1EA1IAL IA PAKIS1AA
Two distinct types oI ocean resource are commonly mentioned as possible energy sources:
waves and tides. In both cases, the oscillating motion oI an incoming and outgoing wave is
used to drive turbines that generate electricity. It has been estimated that if less than 0.1 of
the renewable energy available within the oceans
could be converted into electricity, it would satisfy
present world demand for energy more than five
times over.
ave Energy
Power generation using wave energy is at a much
earlier stage of development, which offers more
predictable outputs than wind. ave energy
generation devices Iall
into two general classiIications, Iixed and Iloating. ave motion can be used to compress
air to drive a turbine or hydraulic pumps.
In November 2000, the world's Iirst commercial wave power station began to Ieed
electricity into the UK's National Grid
(www.dti.gov.uk). Situated on the Scottish island oI
Islay, the LIMPET (Land-Installed Marine-Powered
Energy TransIormer) has been installed
to harness the action oI waves to generate Figure 13: The worl electricity. Rated at 500k, the
system can provide enough electricity Ior about 400 homes (Fig. 13).
Pakistan has about 1000 km long coastline oI with complex network oI creeks in the
Indus deltaic area (Fig.14). The erosional Ieatures along the Makran coastal areas show the
relevance oI strong wave energy, which could be harness Ior the generation oI electric
power Ior rapidly developing coastal cities, Gawader, Pasni, Ormara, Gadani etc (Fig. 15)
.
















Figure 14: Coastline oI Pakistan
sLaLl Lh ScLLlsh lsla lslay


Tide Energy
Tidal stream devices extract energy Irom the
diurnal Ilow oI tidal currents caused by the
gravitational pull oI the moon. That is why the
tide goes in and out at the seaside. Large
structures called "barrages" can be built to use
the tides to generate electricity. Tidal energy
schemes capture water at high tide and release
it at low tide. Tide energy systems traps high
tides in a reservoir. hen the tide drops, the
water behind the reservoir Ilows through a
power turbine, generating electricity. Unlike
wind and wave power, tidal streams oIIer
entirely predictable output.
Typically, tidal turbines, similar in
appearance to wind turbines, are mounted on
the seabed. They are designed to exploit the higher energy density. Tidal stream diIIers Irom
established technology Ior exploiting tidal energy
|eg estuarine tidal barrages, such as and controlled
by means oI a large dam-like structure
(www.dti.gov.ku). Rather, the tidal turbines
operate in the Iree Ilow oI the tides, meaning that
large construction costs and disruption oI
estuarine ecosystems associated with barrages
may be avoided. However, as tidal streams are a
diIIuse Iorm oI energy and the purpose oI the
barrage is to concentrate tidal Ilow, this also
means that large numbers
oI turbines, spread over relatively large areas Ialling tides are used to produce power oI seabed,
are required iI signiIicant amounts
oI energy are to be extracted.


llgu 13 Caal casLal aa l gu a
Caal bach aa l Lh backgu




The creek system oI Indus delta extends over an area oI 170 Km. Tidal water Ilows in
these creeks with high velocity during Ilood and ebb tides, which is very Iavorable requirement
Ior the extraction oI energy Irom tidal currents.
The power resource potential oI the Indus Deltaic Creek System is a great asset Ior
Iuture energy supply in Sindh, Pakistan. On the basis oI limited surveys carried out by the
National Institute oI Oceanography (NIO), the Indus deltaic region where seawater inundates up
to 80 km inland at some places due to the tidal Iluctuation. These surveys and investigations
show encouraging results. These creeks extend Irom Korangi Creek near Karachi to Kajhar
Creek near the Pak India border. The current velocity in these creeks generally ranged Irom 4-5
knots but values as high as 8 knots were also recorded. The diIIerence between tidal heights
along the Pakistan coast varies between 2 to 5 meters. The tidal heights along the Sindh coast
vary between 2-5 meters (Karachi) to over 5.0 meters (Sir Creek) in the Indus delta (Amjad,
2003, personal communication).
It is estimated that about 1100 K power can be produced Irom these creeks altogether.
Development oI indigenous capabilities Ior harnessing tidal energy Irom Pakistan coast, could
bring upliIt oI socio-economic conditions oI coastal population oI Pakistan and consequently
would also promote minimize environmental pollution. However, detailed inIormation is needed
on the distribution Iunction oI waves at the selected site(s). In addition, the Sonmiani Hor and the
Kalmat Khor are also good prospects Ior the development oI Tidal Power in the Balochistan
coastal belt (Fig.14).


ater Power in Pakistan
ith the realities oI climate change and the depletion oI Iossil Iuels, renewable energy is now in
the spotlight. Currently, wind and solar power have been in the news, but there are also many
other sources oI energy that would beneIit the environment and the developing world. These
sources include wave and tidal power in addition to small hydro. In China and India, small hydro
is quite popular and there are also a Iew projects in Pakistan; however, the government could do
much more to promote water power.
This article will Iirst examine wave and tidal power with reIerence to its applicability in
Pakistan. This will include an analysis oI the history oI these technologies, the conditions needed
Ior successIul projects and the beneIits and drawbacks. The second part oI the article will look at
small hydro and why it is the best option Ior Pakistan at this time. ave and tidal power are
good technologies; however, the beneIits oI small hydro are much greater, especially Ior
Pakistan`s developing economy.
An Explanation and History of ave Power


Many companies have developed diIIerent ways oI using wave power, but the two basic
principles behind the designs remain the same. The Iirst design involves the waves moving into a
chamber where the water rises and Ialls. At the top oI the chamber, there is a hole out oI which
air is Iorced, which drives a generator. The other type oI design involves a long tube with hinges,
which moves up and down due to the motion oI waves. This motion moves hydraulic Iluid,
which drives a generator. A power cable then moves this electricity to where it is needed. The
Iirst design was used Ior the very Iirst commercial wave power station, which is situated on Islay
island in Scotland. This project began producing power in November 2000 and provides enough
power Ior 400 homes, according to Nayyer Alam Zaigham, ProIessor & Director, Institute oI
Environmental Studies, University oI Karachi
Tidal Power
Tidal power is potentially very useIul because tides are very reliable. However, only 40 sites in
the world have been Iound that are suitable because there must be a Iive meter diIIerence
between high and low tides.
There are two types oI tidal power stations: the Iirst is built across an estuary and looks similar to
a dam. Inside the dam, there are tunnels that the water passes through. The water then turns a
turbine. The other type oI tidal power station looks like underwater wind turbines, but the size is
usually limited to 25 to 50 megawatts (M), according to the Pembina Institute which works to
advance sustainable energy solutions in Canada. The largest tidal power station was built in
northern France in 1966 and it produces 240 M oI electricity.
Benefits of ave and Tidal
Power ave and tidal power have many beneIits. A 40 M wave power station, which is being
proposed oII the coast oI Cornwall, England, will save 300,000 tons oI carbon dioxide over 25
years. In addition, the net potential Ior both wave and tidal power is greater than wind and solar
because water is 850 times denser than wind, which pushes the turbines Iaster, according to the
Ocean Energy Council (OEC).
Also, because many cities are situated in port areas, the power can be used right where it is
needed. This is important because, as electricity moves through transmission systems, some oI
the power is lost and cannot be recovered. Both tidal and wave power are Iairly inexpensive to
maintain and tidal power is very predictable. Tidal power cannot harm any marine liIe because
underwater animals can oIten sense turbine movement and their sound. In addition, because tidal
power requires a high current, there will never be any animals Ieeding in those areas because
plants cannot grow.
Challenges of ave and Tidal
Power ave and tidal power also have many challenges that need to be resolved in order Ior
these types oI powers to be successIul.


Generally, the best waves are situated in temperate zones, which means that Pakistan is not
suitable Ior wave power. This is because west winds are oIten Iound in the temperate zones,
which are the best Ior wave power. Also, strong winds over large areas as well as a location near
the continental shelI are much more Iavourable Ior wave power because it ensures a disparity
between wave height and wave length.
Sites such as these are very rare, as mentioned above. ave power is also much younger than
wind or solar power and the cancellation oI the UK wave power programme did not aid that. The
Iact that wave power is young also means that the power generated costs more than other sources
oI power. Currently, wave power costs approximately 7.5 cents per kilowatt hour (kh)
compared to 3 cents Ior natural gas, according to the OEC. Tidal power also Iaces many
challenges. One oI the main problems is that shore birds depend on the tide to uncover mud Ilats
in order Ior them to Ieed; tidal power changes this quite drastically. The cost oI tidal power per
kh is 12 cents, which is quite high. This cost would take many years to recover, which is not
attractive Ior the developing world. Thus, although nuclear power is a more questionable energy
source, capacity Iactor is very important because iI the capacity Iactor is higher, it ensures that
power will be produced more Irequently. The reason why tidal power has such a low capacity
Iactor is that tides are only predictable Ior part oI the day and thus, there is no constant supply oI
energy.
$2all vs. Large Hydro
Due to the challenges just mentioned, Pakistan is not suitable Ior wave and tidal power.
However, Pakistan has had some experience with small hydro and there is a continuing interest
in the technology. Currently, Pakistan has 108 M oI small hydro, which consists oI nine
projects. There are also 10 M under construction and 180 M planned, according to the
International Energy Agency. However, Pakistan has the potential Ior 46,000 M oI
hydroelectricity, which includes large and small installations; at present, only 6459 M are
installed, states engineer Abdul aheed Bhutto. Furthermore, he states that many people now
realize that large dams are not suitable Ior the environment, economy and people because dams
cause the Ilooding oI villages and towns, which means that the overnment must spend money to
resettle people; the Kalabagh dam, Ior example, will cost the government Rs. 2 billion in
resettlement costs.
How $2all Hydro orks
Most small hydro systems work on the same principle known as run oI river. One oI the main
beneIits oI this is the absence oI a
reservoir, which means no towns are Ilooded. The water at the high point oI the river is Ied
through a pipe, which turns a small
generator. AIter this, the water re-enters the river, which means that there are no environmental
consequences and the system needed is Iairly small.
These systems last Ior about 25 years and very little maintenance is needed. Small hydro has
three diIIerent categories: pico, mini and micro, which are below 5 kilowatts (k), 1 M and
100 k respectively, explain Taylor, Dr. Upadhyay and Laguna (Project Manager, European


Small Hydro Association) in a review on small hydro in developing countries published on
Renewable Energy orld.
Vietnam is one oI Asia`s leaders in pico hydro where a 300 watt unit costs $20 and produces
enough power Ior one Iamily.
Benefits of $2all Hydro
Small hydro has many beneIits, both Ior the environment and Ior Pakistani society. Small hydro
produces no greenhouse gas emissions aIter it is built. In addition, unlike tidal power, the
ecosystem is not adversely aIIected. Pico hydro only requires a 1-metre rop in height, which
means the technology is guaranteed to work more oI the time than wave power, which depends
on very large waves.
ith regards to society, mall hydro guarantees that there will be electricity available more oI the
time, which means that children can study at night and women can also make handicraIts
ormarkets, which gives them more economic power in society. In addition, women are given
even more Iree time because they do not have to collect Iirewood anymore.
Pakistan can also beneIit Irom the experience and knowledge oI its neighbour India, which has
1694 M oI small hydro installed. Lastly, it is very mportant to note that many people in rural
Pakistan do not have electricity and small hydro is very well suited to many oI these areas
because it does not have to be connected to the grid. Another option is to build grids that only
cover one village or town, which is a very popular option in China, India and Vietnam because
smallhydro can easily be connected to this type oI grid, state Taylor, Upadhyay and Laguna.
Thus, small hydro is by Iar the best option available Ior Pakistan due o the presence oI many
rivers, the environmental and societal beneIits as well as the drawbacks oI wave and tidal power.
It is now up to the government to put in lace policies that would allow people to purchase these
systems cheaply. II Pakistan is able to independently produce power, this would greatly increase
the umber oI jobs and the beneIit to society.
HO E IMPLEMENT TIDAL ENERGY IN PAKI$TAN
Tidal energy is a Iorm oI hydropower that exploits the movement oI water caused by tidal currents
or the rise and Iall in sea levels due to tides. Tidal energy is a relatively unexplored area in
Pakistan.
As a Iirst step, we need a thorough survery oI the coastal areas oI Pakistan to identiIy the best
locations Ior setting up power plants Ior tidal power generation. e also need to encourage
research and development activities in this area to exploit tidal energy.From available data, the
known natural advantages that Pakistan has Ior tidal energydevelopment include a 170km creek
system oI the Indus delta, 2-5 meter high tides at Korangi creek and over 5 meters at Sir Creek.


The inIrastructure setup Ior tidal power plants is expensive and improvements are still needed in
the system Ior a cost eIIective solution to cater to Pakistan's requirements.