Overview
IEC TS 62600-301:2019 - Marine energy - Part 301: River energy resource assessment - defines a standardized methodology for estimating the theoretical river energy resource at potential River Energy Converter (REC) sites. The Technical Specification provides consistent procedures to derive a standard current speed distribution from measured, historical, numerical, or combined datasets, prescribes allowable data collection and modelling techniques, and sets out a framework for reporting results. The document explicitly excludes technical/practical resource assessments, resource characterisation, REC power performance testing, and environmental impact studies.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Methodology overview
- Study classification, project location identification and resource definition.
- Flow Duration Curves (FDCs)
- Procedures for producing measurement-based and model-based discharge FDCs using hydrologic methods (stochastic and deterministic approaches).
- Velocity Duration Curves (VDCs)
- Derivation from direct velocity measurements or hydrodynamic-model outputs; guidance on model selection, domain setup, grid resolution, inputs, boundary conditions, and computation of model-based velocities.
- Data collection and instrumentation
- Acceptable field measurement methods (e.g., current profilers, transect surveys, stage–discharge relationships) and quality-control practices (depth, velocity, clock drift, turbulence).
- Modelling best practices
- Hydrologic and hydrodynamic modelling, calibration, validation and treatment of energy extraction effects in simulations.
- Reporting and deliverables
- Technical report contents, digital database standards, test equipment and measurement procedure reports, and explicit requirements for documenting deviations.
- Uncertainty and energy calculation
- Framework for uncertainty analysis and guidance (Annexes) on calculating theoretical energy production and evaluating modelling/measurement uncertainty.
Applications and practical value
- Provides a consistent, auditable method for estimating river energy resource potential to support:
- Early-stage site screening and pre-feasibility studies.
- Input datasets for REC power performance assessments (using the standard current speed distribution).
- Design basis generation for device developers and array planners.
- Reporting requirements for investors, permitting agencies and stakeholders requiring standardized resource estimates.
- Useful for hydrologists, marine and hydraulic engineers, modelling specialists, device manufacturers, project developers, consultants, researchers and regulatory bodies working in river and in-stream energy.
Who should use this standard
- REC developers and design engineers
- Hydrodynamic and hydrologic modellers
- Environmental and permitting consultants (for consistent data reporting)
- Research institutions and standardization bodies involved in marine and river energy
Related standards
- Other parts of the IEC 62600 series on marine energy (wave, tidal and water current converters) and documents published by IEC TC 114 covering testing, performance and measurement methods for marine renewable technologies.