Numerical Model of Tidal Current for Power Harvesting in Bangka Strait

Exploration of renewable energy sources is necessary to discover alternative energy sources in the current context of depleting fossil-based energy. Ocean hydrodynamic components such as tidal current are abundant yet not widely utilized. The current study is aimed at determining a potential site for tidal current power energy using a certain current turbine. The study consists of field measurement, numerical modeling and its validation, and the selection of a potential site. The field measurement was carried out using an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) type Argonaut-XR. It resulted in ten layers of tidal current data. Numerical modeling was performed using MIKE 3 and validated by the ADCP data. A potential spot in the Province of Bangka Belitung Islands, called the Kelian Cape site, was selected based on its maximum current output and maximum clearance from ship navigation routes. A Verdant Kinetic Hydropower System turbine is selected to harvest the potential power generated by the tidal current and resulted in 3,270.18 kWh per turbine. Although not significant, this nevertheless gives good motivation for ocean-induced energy power harvesting in Indonesia. Further research toward inventing a turbine with a low cut in speed is needed.