Tidal Energy-Based Renewable Power Plant Design for Nijhum Dwip: Feasibility, Challenges, and Future Prospects

Nijhum Dwip, an isolated island in the Bay of Bengal, endures continual electricity shortages despite its significant tidal energy potential. The ultramarine environment presents a substantial reservoir of water tides and tidal energy; however, initiatives to use this potential remain undeveloped. This research presents a comprehensive design for a 51 MW tidal barrage renewable power plant located at the Moktaria Channel, situated between Nijhum Dwip and Hatiya. The system is modeled in MATLAB Simulink to evaluate turbine performance under different tidal heights and flow velocities, facilitating energy generation cycles aligned with high and low tides. This initiative aims to integrate tidal energy with future hybridization using floating solar PV panels to ensure a stable supply and diminish reliance on fossil fuels. A comprehensive SWOT analysis to assess the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of establishing a tidal power system in this area, and monthly simulations demonstrate power generation variations ranging from 30 MW to 63 MW. Our goal is to eliminate the region's electricity shortage, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower carbon emissions, and develop it into a popular eco-tourism destination in Bangladesh. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of implementing a sustainable, hybrid renewable energy system in a geographically challenged and underdeveloped coastal location.