Constraints

Introduction

The constraints that were considered for this analysis and entered into the GIS were divided in terms of: policy constraints and technical constraints. These were decided in order to create a practical overview of the challenges that currently exist, obstructing the deployment of marine current turbines.


By assigning each constraint on independent layer through QGIS, it is possible to get a complete view of each constraint and determine its scale in relation to the other constraints around the coast. Therefore, the effect of the constraint is shown by overlaying a constraint layer over a map of tidal resource. This allows you to estimate what proportion of the resource is accessible. This process was carried out for a number of key technical and policy constraints on a local and national scale.


This method has the advantage of being able to graphically demonstrate how the availability of the tidal stream resource shrinks with each constraint being introduced into the analysis. From this, the greatest obstacles to marine current turbine deployment can be identified, so that solutions to these barriers can be sought that would open up a greater amount of tidal resource. Many potential constraints were identified, and a complete list of the constraints considered can be found in the technical analysis and policy analysis sections of the webpage. However, for the purposes of completing a more in-depth project the key constraints the group identified were considered.