THE EXPLOITATION OF MARINE CURRENT´S ENERGY ON THE STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR

The two great currents of water going along The Strait of Gibraltar give rise to an interchange of large masses of water between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. They flow one over the other in opposite directions and both are very important renewable sources of energy that at present time are not in use at all.

This work begins with a description of the way in which the energetic potential of both currents can be estimated, afterwards a study on the possibilities of getting a partial use of this potential is done, without navigation´s restrictions and also looking for the protection of the marine environment. Indeed, the work shows how to use the energy source with several types of submerged turbines that are being developed nowadays, the analysis about where the devices must be placed is done and which are the rates of electrical energy that will be get.

Finally, the paper is concluded giving an exposition of the basic parameters for the design procedure of one submerged electrical generation park located in the zone. How the devices must be arranged into the current is indicated and the forecast of the energy production of the park is done