Tidal Energy

Tidal energy, also called tidal power, has possibly the greatest potential for the future. Twice each day the earth's oceans move enormous amounts of water and converting that into electricity is a form of hydropower. The tides themselves are caused by the gravitational reaction of the sun and the moon which makes tidal power more predictable than wind and solar, and a virtually inexhaustible, fantastic renewable resource. The Geek gives this a thumbs up!

Underwater turbines are placed in areas of the oceans with the greatest tidal movements and the kinectic surging of the tide spins the turbine and generates the electricity - no burning fossil fuels, no radioactive waste, and no fresh water waste to create steam to move the turbines. Different kinds of generators are tidal stream systems (similar to windmills), Barrages (like dams), and tidal lagoons (a self contained structure like a barrage but smaller).

Environmental impact: A proposal for one barrage projects to save 18 million tons of coal per year. This definatley helps cut down greenhouse gasses, but, with everything, there is a down side. Massive barrages could disrupt the ecosystem in the area of their location by: turbidity (causing overgrowth of plankton effecting food chain), salinity (alter the natural flow of salt water in and out of estuaries), and high volumes of fish being destroyed while trying to pass through the turbines. There are solutions to these problems and the speed bumps they encounter also available here by the Geekmeister.

Return from Tidal Energy page to Alternative Energy Geek home page.