IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL SITES FOR HARVESTING TIDAL CURRENT POWER IN KELIAN CAPE, KELABAT BAY, AND LARANTUKA STRAIT

Abstract

Harvesting of power from tidal currents is part of an emerging effort to capture energy from
renewable sources, as non-renewable energy resources are depleted. The Indonesian government plans to
develop tidal energy power generators in several areas and is conducting assessments in Bangka Belitung
province at two locations in Kelian Cape and Kelabat Bay and in the province of East Nusa Tenggara at
Larantuka Strait. Three potential locations namely Kelian Cape, Kelabat Bay, and Larantuka Strait, is assessed.
Field measurements, numerical modeling, and potential site analysis are carried out. Both tidal elevation and
tidal current validation between field measurement data and numerical modeling results are carried out and
show good agreement. MIKE 3 (licensed) is used for the modeling process The Kelian Cape model presents
three potential sites at Kelian Cape, with a peak velocity of 1.4 m/s. The Kelabat Bay model gives five potential
sites, located at the bay’s narrowest point, with a peak velocity of 1.15 m/s. The Larantuka Strait model gives
four potential sites in the narrowest area, with a peak velocity of 2.5 m/s. Larantuka Strait is found to have the
most potential for the harvesting of tidal current power, as the current velocity at Larantuka Strait is higher,
meaning that turbine devices with higher cut-in speeds are suitable. In Kelian Cape and Kelabat Bay, devices
with low cut-in speed such as the Gorlov Helical Turbine or Sabella Turbine are required.