Tidal Energy Test Site

The UNH tidal energy test site is at the General Sullivan Bridge where the Lower Piscataqua enters Little Bay through a constriction. The tidal range is nominally 8.2 ft (2.5 m), and approximately 40 percent of the volume of Great Bay flows under the bridge every tidal cycle. This results in peak current speeds of greater than 4 knots (2 m/s), as well as relatively short periods of slack water and a steep current speed ramp-up. UNH-CORE faculty have modeled the dynamics of this tidal system in several studies. This site is considered a full-scale test site for vertical axis turbines, while it can be considered a “large-scale” test site (geometric scale 1:3-1:5) for large diameter horizontal axis turbines.