![Tidal energy: Assessment of resources along Indian Gulfs](/sites/default/files/2024-03/tidal.jpeg)
Tidal energy is one of the most promising resources of marine renewable energy. In India, Gulf of Khambhat, Gulf of Kutchh in Gujarat state and delta of Ganga in Sunderbans, West Bengal state are potential sites for generating tidal power. The aim of the research study is to estimate the tidal power potential along the Gulfs of Khambhat and Kutch. Two independent hydrodynamic models have been developed to estimate the spatial and temporal distributions of tidal energies in these Gulfs. The Gulfs are characterised by high water levels, of the order of 9 m and strong currents with velocities exceeding 2.5 m/s. The hydrodynamic results of developed numerical models are validated with in situ data of past studies and our own field measurements. Using the numerical models based tidal hydrodynamics, the maximum power densities are estimated to be of the order of about 600 W/m 2 and 4500 W/m 2 in Gulf of Kutchh and Khambhat respectively. These resource assessment of tidal energies pave way for the possible identification of locations and selection of power extraction technologies, in future.
Prof. R Balaji