Velocity Profile Variabilities at a Tidal-Stream Energy Site Facing Open Sea (Raz Blanchard, France)

The Alderney Race is one of the most powerful current in Europe (up to 5 m/s during spring tide). Considering these important currents, this site has been identified to extract energy from the tide with installation of tidal turbines. However, this area is facing open sea to the west and thus strong wind can generate significant wave height interplaying with the tidal currents, which is a critical point for the dimensioning of the tidal turbines. This chapter deals with in situ measurements of waves and currents in Alderney Race.