A High-resolution Tidal Hydrodynamic Model for Sequim Bay, WA to Support Marine Renewable Energy Research

Marine renewable energy (e.g., tidal current and wave energy) comprises resources that do not generate carbon emissions. Because of high energy potential, the Salish Sea and adjacent coastal waters have been identified among the top candidate sites in the U.S. for marine energy development. To better support a variety of marine energy related research and development activities, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Marine and Coastal Research Laboratory in Sequim, WA has been preparing Sequim Bay as a testbed for researchers to utilize its unique tidal and geographic setting for pilot-scale tidal energy, ocean technology, and environmental monitoring research. In this study, we present our work in developing a high-resolution tidal hydrodynamic model for Sequim Bay, which provides essential hydrodynamic information to marine energy researchers. The hydrodynamic model is based on the unstructured-grid Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) and resolves tidal channels with a fine grid resolution of ~10 m. The model has been systematically validated with high-quality field observations of water level and velocity. The validated model was further applied to characterize tidal circulation and tidal energy distribution in Sequim Bay. Additional efforts on energy extraction, analysis tool development and data dissemination to support tidal current energy development are also discussed.