Overview
IEC TS 62600-201:2015 provides a structured system for assessing and characterizing the tidal energy resource in oceanic areas and estuaries (to the limit of tidal influence). It specifies how to estimate or measure the theoretical tidal current energy that may support arrays of Tidal Energy Converters (TECs) and how to generate suitably accurate resource inputs for calculating projected annual energy production (AEP) in conjunction with IEC 62600-200.
Key Topics
The Technical Specification covers practical, technical and methodological elements for tidal resource assessment, including:
- Project stages and definitions (feasibility study, layout/design stages).
- Data collection requirements: bathymetry, tidal heights, mobile and stationary tidal current surveys, wind and atmospheric data, wave climate, turbulence, stratification, salinity and sediment measurements.
- Instrument guidance (e.g., current profilers and quality-control practices) and data-quality assessment.
- Hydrodynamic model development: model coverage, bathymetric interpolation, boundary conditions, resolution, model selection and characteristics.
- Model calibration and validation methods and best-practice checks.
- Incorporating energy extraction effects of TEC arrays into models and practical approaches to simulate device–flow interactions.
- Data analysis and outputs: long-term velocity distributions, joint probability distributions (velocity and direction), exceedance curves and reporting formats.
- Reporting and deliverables to support AEP calculations and decision-making.
Applications and Who Uses It
IEC TS 62600-201 is intended for professionals involved in marine renewable energy projects where tidal resource characterization is required:
- Project developers and feasibility analysts conducting site selection and early-stage resource estimates.
- Marine and coastal engineers performing hydrodynamic modelling and array layout design.
- Environmental and oceanographic survey teams planning and validating mobile and stationary current measurements.
- Turbine designers and system integrators using resource inputs to estimate TECs’ annual energy production.
- Regulators, investors and consultants assessing technical risk and resource uncertainty.
Practical uses include site feasibility studies, array layout optimization, baseline data collection planning, model calibration/validation, and generation of standardized resource reports to support permitting, financing and design decisions.
Related Standards
- IEC 62600-200 (marine energy - TEC power performance and AEP methodology) - used together with IEC TS 62600-201 for calculating device and array energy production.
- Other parts of the IEC 62600 series for wave, tidal and water-current converters provide complementary guidance on performance, design and testing.
Keywords: tidal energy resource assessment, tidal current energy, Tidal Energy Converters (TECs), bathymetry, hydrodynamic modelling, site characterization, IEC 62600-201.