Orbital Marine Power (Orbital) is seeking to deploy their floating tidal technology in US waters and has considered the possibility of deploying in temperate waters including the Pacific Northwest (PNW) and the Western Passage, Maine. It has become apparent that some of the most promising tidal sites in the US are located in high latitudes, within the State of Alaska. Within the state, the most likely sites for grid-scale tidal energy are in Cook Inlet, with the largest city (Anchorage) located on the shores, ready and able to absorb the electrical output of a commercial scale tidal development.

This report is based on a modeling analysis, a desk-top review and analysis, focusing on the characteristics of the tidal technology and environmental monitoring information on the marine animals and habitats that are specific to high latitudes, particularly those that are endemic to Cook Inlet. The analysis describes the state and federal authorizations required for deploying a floating tidal energy technology, with an emphasis on how they differ from those in Washington/Oregon and Maine. Environmentally compliant sites within Cook Inlet will be selected based on environmental, logistical, and regulatory criteria. Recommendations on monitoring needs and adaptive management practices will be provided. The need to acquire social acceptance for the Orbital technology will also be explored and general recommendations prepared to encourage the best acceptance in the communities of interest. The environmentally compliant sites are overlaid with the tidal currents and logistic details that forms the most likely sites for prospecting for tidal energy deployments

This project was supported during RFTS 5.