Environmental impact of tidal power in the Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier : Appendix E: Impact of Tidal Energy Extraction in the Eastern Scheldt Storm Surge Barrier on Basin Hydrodynamics and Morphology

The Eastern Scheldt basin is protected by a semi-open storm surge barrier that was completed in 1986. This barrier includes 62 openings with gates between piers, which are only closed during extreme storm surges. In 2015 a set of five turbines was installed in one of the openings as a pilot for tidal energy extraction. The construction of the barrier significantly changed the basin hydrodynamics (tidal volume, range and velocities) and associated basin morphodynamics (sedimentation and erosion patterns of tidal flats and channels). This thesis investigates the incremental impact of tidal energy extraction in the barrier on the hydrodynamics and morphology of the basin, covering both scenarios with turbines installed currently and potential upscaling of tidal energy extraction.