| Tidal power is using the tides to extract
| |
| | would be used specifically in remote
|
| energy to convert into electricity. The
| |
| | areas such as the Highlands and Islands
|
| tides are the result of the gravitational
| |
| | of Scotland.
|
| force between the Earth and Moon. On a
| |
| | World wide only about 20 sites have been
|
| daily basis this force pulls up tons of
| |
| | identified as having the potential to
|
| water, thus the tides. The tides are
| |
| | harness the power from the waves. This
|
| also brought back down, allowing for
| |
| | is due to the fact that between 12 and 18
|
| tidal power to be used twice daily, which
| |
| | feet difference (called 'head') between
|
| would sum to about 10 hours. Tidal power
| |
| | high and low tide is needed, and very few
|
| is catching this water when it is at high
| |
| | areas experience this range of heights.
|
| tide and storing it in reservoir type
| |
| | (In the United States one of the only
|
| structures until the time of low tide.
| |
| | usable sites is at Nantucket, though it
|
| During low tide, the water is released,
| |
| | is unlikely that they will begin
|
| allowing it to flow back out to sea
| |
| | construction due to the unpleasing
|
| through the turbines, and thus generating
| |
| | appearance of the plants)
|
| power. In order to create a tidal plant,
| |
| | Another option yet to be completely
|
| we build a dam, called a barrage, at the
| |
| | explored would be to use offshore
|
| bottom of a tidal basin. This includes a
| |
| | turbines
|
| device called a sluice, which opens up
| |
| | (Somewhat comparable to an underwater
|
| allowing the tide to come in at high
| |
| | wind farm.) These would be quite a lot
|
| tide. This water rushes past a turbine
| |
| | cheaper than building the large-scale
|
| that is attached to a generator, or in
| |
| | bridges and wouldn't pose such risks to
|
| some cases the water pushes air through
| |
| | the environment. There are many more
|
| tunnels that then act like wind through a
| |
| | potential sites for this type of
|
| turbine. When it is time for the tide to
| |
| | technology than the current tidal
|
| go out at low tide, the function of the
| |
| | technologies. Some would speculate that
|
| sluice reverses and the water flows back
| |
| | these would pose risk to marine life, but
|
| out through the turbines.
| |
| | it has been pointed out that they pose
|
| History
| |
| | far less risk than the propellers on
|
| Utilizing the tides was first done in the
| |
| | ships, as they are both stationary and
|
| 18th century to compete with windmills
| |
| | rotate 10 times more slowly.
|
| and another water technology--water
| |
| | Advantages and Disadvantages:
|
| wheels. Water mills were quite popular
| |
| | Once constructed, it is a free source.
|
| but became scarce once the steam engine
| |
| | No greenhouse or other gas emissions.
|
| gained its popularity. Tidal power
| |
| | Reliable.
|
| plants have not traditionally been a
| |
| | Inexpensive to maintain.
|
| popular way to convert energy into
| |
| | Tides are very predictable.
|
| electricity.
| |
| | Needs to be close to the coast.
|
| Current Usage
| |
| | Not a continual energy supply throughout
|
| Presently France is the only country that
| |
| | the day.
|
| successfully uses the tides as a power
| |
| | Not aesthetically pleasing.
|
| source. In their country, tidal power
| |
| | Tidal power has the potential to one-day
|
| accounts for just about 240 megawatts of
| |
| | account for one fiftieth of our total
|
| power at the world's largest tidal
| |
| | power consumption, so they could never
|
| plant--the La Rance. This facility was
| |
| | solve our current energy dilemma. They
|
| constructed in 1966, and is currently
| |
| | could provide assistance, but never more
|
| Europe's only tidal plant. This plant
| |
| | than that--we could not totally rely on
|
| provides roughly enough energy to fuel
| |
| | this technology. The greatest drawback
|
| 240,000 homes. Though the energy source
| |
| | is that we know little about the effect
|
| is both reliable and plentiful,
| |
| | this has on marine life. There is always
|
| extracting usable power from it is not.
| |
| | a potential threat to the natural
|
| Future
| |
| | ecosystems when we disrupt nature's
|
| The comparison between tidal energy now
| |
| | processes, and the ocean is no exception.
|
| and wind energy 10 years ago has been
| |
| | The reduced tidal flow that Tidal energy
|
| made. Researchers are hopeful that
| |
| | systems cause has environmental impacts
|
| developments to the technology can be
| |
| | on tidal basins because they decrease the
|
| made. One offshoot of tidal power that
| |
| | flow of the tides and also silt buildup.
|
| is currently being researched is the
| |
| | There is speculation that if we use this
|
| possibility of using the energy extracted
| |
| | technology to a great degree the tides
|
| from waves to produce hydrogen for fuel
| |
| | will slow down, posing a great treats to
|
| or fuel cells. There is hope that this
| |
| | the ecosystem.
|
