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1.) Tidal power is one of the earliest forms of energy, but one of the hardest to harness considering the correct geography needed to get the best results.
2.) Tidal power is one of the very few energy productions that have no GHG emissions and pollution, but it does take a toll on the environment in other ways like altering the ecosystems and wildlife.
3.) Tidal power is also one of the few power sources that can run 24/7/365

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Tidal energy, in the simplest terms, can be defined as the energy created by the movement of the water to the tides and waves of the ocean and currents in the river. This energy is created with the help of turbines that are located under the water. The main purpose of the tidal energy is to generate electricity at the tidal power plants.

Facts About Tidal Energy

The energy is created by utilizing the gravitational forces of the sun and moon, as tides are a result of their influences.

It is the energy obtained from the changing sea levels or ocean currents and tides, i.e, from low tide or high tide.

There are 2 basic theories on how tides are converted into power. According to the first theory, the power of the horizontal movement of the water is converted into electricity. Whereas, in the second method, energy is produced from the rise and drop of water levels.

Tidal energy is one of the oldest forms of energy, known to man since circa 787 A.D.

Tidal barrages and undersea tidal turbines are used to harness undersea currents for the production of energy.

It is influenced by geography and speed and volume of the currents. Hence, it is produced in very few locations in the world.

Unfortunately, the turbines can lead to the displacement of wildlife habitats in the specific region, thus altering the ecosystem.

Also, the speed of the tides cannot be controlled or increased; which can be bothersome in some cases.

No side products like greenhouse gases or other pollutants are given out during the production of electricity through tidal energy.

Facts for Kids

It is used to produce electricity and some other forms of power by using water.

It is a renewable source of energy, i.e., it can be produced by man whenever needed and can never get exhausted.

Tidal power is a non-polluting and reliable source of energy.

As the tidal currents are predictable according to size and time aspects, the production of energy is predictable and comparatively easier.

Production of tidal energy does not require fuel of any kind which makes economic beneficial.

Tidal energy power plants make use of similar technology; i,.e., dam and turbines, which is similar to that used in hydro-electric power plants.

One of the other advantages is that the tides of the ocean are active for 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.

This energy, in a way, reduces our dependence on fossil fuels to some extent.

Using this energy effectively can decrease the need for nuclear power and its risks.

Tidal energy generation and consumption is eco-friendly as it creates no liquid or solid pollution.

As there are several advantages of this renewable source of energy, surely there will be an increase in its production and usage in the near future.

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Tidal Energy Facts You Won't Want to Forget

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Tidal energy, in the simplest terms, can be defined as the energy created by the movement of the water to the tides and waves of the ocean and currents in the river. This energy is created with the help of turbines that are located under the water.

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Energy can be harnessed from the movement, force and power from the ocean. We can harness this energy in 3 different ways - Surface devices, underwater devices, and reservoirs. In Surface devices, the energy is gained from the movement of the waves going up and down. In underwater devices, when the waves and tide push them, they move a turbine blade which then creates the electricity. And lastly, in reservoirs, they are set up along the coastline and when the waves crash into these turbines they move them and create electricity.

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How do we get power from the tides?

There are also three main ways that tidal energy is harnessed:

Tidal Barrages - A tidal barrage works like a dam. When the tide goes high, the reservoir fills up. When the tide drops, the dam lets the water out. In both directions the moving water can spin the blades of turbines to create electricity.

Tidal Fences - These are smaller structures than a barrage. A number of vertical turbines form a fence between two land masses. When the tide moves in or out, the turbines spin and generate electricity.

Tidal Turbines - These are individual turbines placed anywhere there is a strong tidal flow.

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Environment for Kids: Wave and Tidal Energy

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How do we get power from the tides? There are also three main ways that tidal energy is harnessed: Tidal Barrages - A tidal barrage works like a dam. When the tide goes high, the reservoir fills up. When the tide drops, the dam lets the water out.

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The United States actually does not have any sort of tidal power generators at all, and there are very few located around the world. The largest is located in South Korea and others are located in places like Canada, China, France, and Russia.

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Tidal energy is power produced by the surge of ocean waters during the rise and fall of tides. Tidal energy is a renewable source of energy.

Subjects

Earth Science, Geography, Physical Geography, Social Studies, Economics

Tidal energy is produced by the surge of ocean waters during the rise and fall of tides. Tidal energy is a renewable source of energy.

During the 20th century, engineers developed ways to use tidal movement to generate electricity in areas where there is a significant tidal range-the difference in area between high tide and low tide. All methods use special generators to convert tidal energy into electricity.

Tidal energy production is still in its infancy. The amount of power produced so far has been small. There are very few commercial-sized tidal power plants operating in the world. The first was located in La Rance, France. The largest facility is the Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station in South Korea. The United States has no tidal plants and only a few sites where tidal energy could be produced at a reasonable price. China, France, England, Canada, and Russia have much more potential to use this type of energy.

In the United States, there are legal concerns about underwater land ownership and environmental impact. Investors are not enthusiastic about tidal energy because there is not a strong guarantee that it will make money or benefit consumers. Engineers are working to improve the technology of tidal energy generators to increase the amount of energy they produce, to decrease their impact on the environment, and to find a way to earn a profit for energy companies.

Tidal Energy Generators

There are currently three different ways to get tidal energy: tidal streams, barrages, and tidal lagoons.

For most tidal energy generators, turbines are placed in tidal streams. A tidal stream is a fast-flowing body of water created by tides. A turbine is a machine that takes energy from a flow of fluid. That fluid can be air (wind) or liquid (water). Because water is much more dense than air, tidal energy is more powerful than wind energy. Unlike wind, tides are predictable and stable. Where tidal generators are used, they produce a steady, reliable stream of electricity.

Placing turbines in tidal streams is complex, because the machines are large and disrupt the tide they are trying to harness. The environmental impact could be severe, depending on the size of the turbine and the site of the tidal stream. Turbines are most effective in shallow water. This produces more energy and allows ships to navigate around the turbines. A tidal generator's turbine blades also turn slowly, which helps marine life avoid getting caught in the system.

The world's first tidal power station was constructed in 2007 at Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland. The turbines are placed in a narrow strait between the Strangford Lough inlet and the Irish Sea. The tide can move at 4 meters (13 feet) per second across the strait.

Barrage
Another type of tidal energy generator uses a large dam called a barrage. With a barrage, water can spill over the top or through turbines in the dam because the dam is low. Barrages can be constructed across tidal rivers, bays, and estuaries.

Turbines inside the barrage harness the power of tides the same way a river dam harnesses the power of a river. The barrage gates are open as the tide rises. At high tide, the barrage gates close, creating a pool, or tidal lagoon. The water is then released through the barrage's turbines, creating energy at a rate that can be controlled by engineers.

The environmental impact of a barrage system can be quite significant. The land in the tidal range is completely disrupted. The change in water level in the tidal lagoon might harm plant and animal life. The salinity inside the tidal lagoon lowers, which changes the organisms that are able to live there. As with dams across rivers, fish are blocked into or out of the tidal lagoon. Turbines move quickly in barrages, and marine animals can be caught in the blades. With their food source limited, birds might find different places to migrate.

A barrage is a much more expensive tidal energy generator than a single turbine. Although there are no fuel costs, barrages involve more construction and more machines. Unlike single turbines, barrages also require constant supervision to adjust power output.

The tidal power plant at the Rance River estuary in Brittany, France, uses a barrage. It was built in 1966 and is still functioning. The plant uses two sources of energy: tidal energy from the English Channel and river current energy from the Rance River. The barrage has led to an increased level of silt in the habitat. Native aquatic plants suffocate in silt, and a flatfish called plaice is now extinct in the area. Other organisms, such as cuttlefish, a relative of squids, now thrive in the Rance estuary. Cuttlefish prefer cloudy, silty ecosystems.

Tidal Lagoon
The final type of tidal energy generator involves the construction of tidal lagoons. A tidal lagoon is a body of ocean water that is partly enclosed by a natural or manmade barrier. Tidal lagoons might also be estuaries and have freshwater emptying into them.

A tidal energy generator using tidal lagoons would function much like a barrage. Unlike barrages, however, tidal lagoons can be constructed along the natural coastline. A tidal lagoon power plant could also generate continuous power. The turbines work as the lagoon is filling and emptying.

The environmental impact of tidal lagoons is minimal. The lagoons can be constructed with natural materials like rock. They would appear as a low breakwater (sea wall) at low tide, and be submerged at high tide. Animals could swim around the structure, and smaller organisms could swim inside it. Large predators like sharks would not be able to penetrate the lagoon, so smaller fish would probably thrive. Birds would likely flock to the area.

But the energy output from generators using tidal lagoons is likely to be low. There are no functioning examples yet. China is constructing a tidal lagoon power plant at the Yalu River, near its border with North Korea. A private company is also planning a small tidal lagoon power plant in Swansea Bay, Wales.

Fast Fact

DTP
Dynamic tidal power (DTP) is one of the newest proposals to harness the power of tides. Using DTP, enormous dams (as long as 50 kilometers (31 miles)) would extend straight from the shore into the open ocean.

Media Credits

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Illustrators

Mary Crooks, National Geographic Society

Editors

Jeannie Evers, Emdash Editing, Emdash Editing

Producer

National Geographic Society

other

Last Updated

October 19, 2023

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Tidal energy is power produced by the surge of ocean waters during the rise and fall of tides. Tidal energy is a renewable source of energy.

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The graph is illustrating the change in Tidal Power usage in each region over the years through 2012 all the way up to 2021. Overall it stays relativity consistent but they can change over the years even if nothing else changes because some things can depends on several aspects of the ocean itself. For example, the current strength, salt levels, temperature, the sun, the moon and several other things.

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This graph is illustrating the amount of energy that Tidal power has/is generating and the predicted amount of energy that it will produce in the future. I do hope that this does become the case because Tidal power is an amazing way to get energy but I'm not sure if it is the most reliable source just because it is such a big jump and at such a fast rate that I'm not 100% sure its very attainable in that timeline.

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The Purple in the graph is the amount of energy that is predicted to be needed in the future while the blue is the amount of energy that will be predicted to be made in that time with the upcoming future projects that have been announced. Going off of this graph, we will needed to increase our upcoming projects by a lot in order to meet the predicted needs of energy.

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Ocean Renewable Energy, is on the rise throughout south-east Asia. They say that Tidal energy could untimely be "double of the world electricity demand". The Philippines is working to not only include new projects for tidal energy, but also solar, wind and other renewable energy sources. Not only the Philippines, but also Indonesia and other countries in south-east Asia are working on more projects for more ocean energy. "Additionally the report said exploitation would create jobs, improves livelihoods and provide other socio-economic benefits whilst delivering “predictability” in energy supply." (Tunnicliffe)

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The coastlines of Asia have big potential for tidal power, but the field remains mostly unexplored. Credit: Joel Sharpe/Getty Images.

If there is one certainty in today's changeable world, it is that tides will rise and fall. You only need to gaze towards the ocean to be reminded of the power of the seas, the backdrop for an abundance of stories, both fact and fiction.

Southeast Asia is blessed with ocean space, largely comprising islands or ocean-bound states - known either as Mainland or Maritime Southeast Asia - in the Indian and Pacific oceans. The region is increasingly interesting to academics, who consider how renewable power techniques and technologies can be utilised for the more than 660 million people living there. Among them are ocean thermal energy, salinity gradient technologies, wave and tidal power generation, collectively known as ocean renewable energy (ORE).

"Oceans contain vast renewable energy potential", according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), "theoretically equivalent to more than double the world's current electricity demand." In a 2020 report, "Innovation Outlook: Ocean Energy Technologies", it concluded ocean energy could provide "affordable, reliable electricity" for small island developing states, as well as "boosting potable water supplies via seawater desalination"; arguably highly attractive to Southeast Asia given its geographical make-up.

Additionally the report said exploitation would create jobs, improves livelihoods and provide other socio-economic benefits whilst delivering "predictability" in energy supply.

More than a drop in the ocean

However, of all the renewable power generation sources, ocean-based energy is arguably the least advanced, with technologies largely not commercially available today, at least not on an industrial scale. In a late 2021 market report, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said globally policies promoting research and development are needed to achieve further cost reductions and large-scale development.

The IEA said: "Electricity generation from marine technologies increased an estimated 33% in 2020, mainly owing to Denmark's capacity increase of 200 MW. However, marine power's status remains 'not on track' because it is far from being aligned with the Net Zero Scenario's sustained annual growth of 33% through 2030, which is not expected to be achieved in the years ahead."

IRENA adds that barriers to the technology's development remain, and include the technology itself, infrastructure, and financial and regulatory concerns. Among the infrastructure challenges is the lack of grid connectivity, leading to significantly increased costs. It adds: "Grids in ocean energy markets can be small and unstable, especially in islands or sparsely populated coastal areas."

However, globally some countries are managing to address many of these concerns, at least enough to make a success of some projects. IRENA said its 2020 analysis found the largest concentration of ocean energy technologies were being developed in 31 countries, with a large concentration in Europe. Accounting for 98% of the total installed ocean energy capacity globally, the main markets were South Korea, France and Canada. "These countries hold the largest number of projects tested, deployed and planned, as well as the most project developers and device manufacturers," it said.

Based on IRENA's analysis, the global cumulative resource potential ranges from 45,000TWh to well above 130,000 annually. "Therefore, ocean energy alone has the potential to meet more than twice the current global electricity demand," it said. Tidal energy technologies represent "the majority of the global installed ocean energy capacity", with around 512MW, of which 501.5MW is operational tidal barrage plants.

Supply and demand, demand, demand

Like a growing list of nations around the world, many within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have committed to reducing their carbon emissions; however, they face challenges unique to their geographies, economies and even socio-political will. By the middle of this decade ASEAN aims to meet 23% of its primary energy demands via renewable sources, an ambition it is well on the way to achieving. But demand is outpacing supply and looks set to do so for the foreseeable future.

In a report published by the IEA as early as 2019, it was concluded energy demand across the region had increased by more than 80% from where it was two decades prior, making the need to find alternative sources of energy even more critical. IRENA, though, says that countries in Asia and south-east Asia do have tidal power potential, but it has not yet been fully harnessed and leveraged.

The environment - figuratively speaking - is not yet matured enough. "There is a lack of ocean energy networks and umbrella organisations that have the resources and experience in developing ocean energy regulatory frameworks and discussing potential policies with authorities," IRENA said in 2020. "In addition, there is often a lack of clarity and information on the permitting process. Strategic government plans and policy mechanisms are further lacking to enhance the grid, obtain investments, support revenue streams and conduct marine spatial planning due to the novelty of these technologies."

Yet the circumstances may be changing - both in Southeast Asia and around the world - as countries look to enhance their sustainable energy portfolios as the impact of climate change and growing energy insecurity become ever more apparent. ASEAN members, particularly Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines, are taking a much more considered approach to green energy than ever before. All are positively encouraging project investments - both technological and infrastructure - by introducing new laws, funding and other financial incentives and the creation of attractive foreign investment environments to promote investment.

Southeast Asia could lead the world in tidal power

As part of that push to attract international partners, in August 2022 the Philippines Department of Energy opened the door to new renewable energy projects with 100% foreign investment, something that was initially prohibited by its 1987 Constitution. Speaking at a committee meeting, Energy Secretary Raphael Lotilla said the country needed to move towards indigenous sources of power to secure energy and not be at the mercy of volatile markets.

"We need to address the industry's needs and, definitely, one way of doing that is to open up renewable energy," he said. "We must end this overdependence on petroleum and petroleum-based fuels because otherwise we'll always experience volatility in prices. We would have to invest in solar, wind and even newer technologies." He added that in the longer-term, ocean, thermal, hydrogen and offshore wind would be the goal; but accepted that regulatory reform is needed and that tidal was still relatively costly.

The Philippines isn't alone in Asia with its renewable, and tidal, power ambitions. Indonesia is actively pursuing marine energy as part of its longer-term renewable ambitions. Marine renewables are recognised as part of the country's renewable energy development plan, making funding available for pilot testing in preparation for full-scale commercialisation.

Southeast Asia is big on energy transition, and tidal power may have a role to play. Currently, the region is largely reliant on fossil fuels and as such exposed to the vagaries of this increasingly unpredictable market. Renewables are a huge part of the answer, and the region knows it; but it's difficult to get a clear picture of where it is in renewable power. It's among the top renewable generators in the world when breaking the market down into subcategories - such as geothermal and to a degree solar - but it lags significantly behind in many others.

However, given the undeveloped nature of the marine, specifically tidal, renewable energy, the region has the potential to be a global powerhouse. To do so it needs to ensure it's geared to attracting foreign interest - bringing with it technical expertise and funding. If it can do that, Southeast Asia could be sailing the high seas in a new age of renewable power.

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Ocean power: a running tide for renewables in Asia

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If there is one certainty in today's changeable world, it is that tides will rise and fall. You only need to gaze towards the ocean to be reminded of the power of the seas, the backdrop for an abundance of stories, both fact and fiction.

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Liverpool City Region has made an agreement with a huge tidal power plant in South Korea to build 1 million homes and building a barrage to harness tidal power on the River Mersey in Liverpool to do so! They say it will probably take around 10 years for the whole project to be completed, but it will create "very cheap" energy that will untimely pay off quickly in the end. This will be sustainable for the environment because we will be making less energy from unsustainable ways, and it will be sustainable for us as well for the same reasons!

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The Sihwa Lake tidal range power plant, which is operated by Korea Water Resources Corporation, known as K-water, generates 552GWh of clean, green energy every year, replacing the equivalent of 862,000 barrels of oil a year.

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Mersey tidal power: Agreement signed with South Korean giant

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The Sihwa Lake tidal range power plant, which is operated by Korea Water Resources Corporation, known as K-water, generates 552GWh of clean, green energy every year, replacing the equivalent of 862,000 barrels of oil a year.

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A huge new tidal power plant is in construction in Turkey for the first time! It is said to be the biggest tidal power plant ever built and the beginning construction cost will be about $150 million. This will be good for the environment and us because its spreading the clean every power plants farther across the world with a bigger impact. This way we are using more renewable energy and less non-renewable energy.

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World’s largest wave power plant in frame for Turkey following ‘landmark’ deal | Recharge

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Up-to-77MW project based on Israeli outfit Eco Wave Power’s breakwater-fixed concept to be built in phases at site in Ordu on Black Sea coast for Oren Ordu Ener

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Tidal power is making a big impact on many places around the world with many different places taking tidal power and taking their own spin(get it! *wink*) on it. New forms of tidal power are being created like new energy storage systems and floating tidal systems or just putting them in places they've never been before! This is better than what was happening before, because its helping create an even bigger variety of ways to get renewable energy. This is important for the environment and its overall health and for us because if the overall health of our environment isn't good, then we aren't.

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It's estimated that one terawatt of energy could be harvested from tidal movements. This would be enough to power 10 billion 100-watt light bulbs.

Tidal energy installations are multiplying around the world. In Europe - the region with most tidal stream capacity - electricity produced by tidal energy increased by an additional 15 gigawatt-hours in 2019, reaching a total of 49 GWh. Other countries investing in tidal energy include Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, and the U.S.

And yet, the idea of tidal energy still hasn't taken off globally as an economically sustainable renewable. This is largely due to a lack of feasible locations and the inherent complexity of constructing energy installations in turbulent oceans.

With a beguiling array of technologies in the works to meet these challenges, here's an overview of where tidal energy is today:

(credit: Scottish Government)

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Tidal energy is a renewable energy source powered by the natural rise and fall of oceans due to the pull of the moon and the sun and the rotation of the earth. Currently, there are three main ways of harnessing tidal energy:

Tidal barrage: This method uses a large dam where water spills through turbines similar to those used for producing wind power. The barrage gates open as the tide rises and closes at high tide. The water is then released through the barrage's turbines to create additional energy on its way back into the ocean. Barrages can be constructed across tidal rivers, bays, and estuaries.

Tidal streams: Here, turbines are installed directly into a fast-flowing stream naturally created by the tide, eliminating the need for the construction of a barrage.

Tidal lagoons: While less common and generating less power, a tidal lagoon is a body of ocean water that is partly enclosed by a natural or manmade barrier. Turbines harvest energy as the partly enclosed water body is filling and emptying.

Predictable energy: Unlike solar and wind power, which are rendered ineffective on sunny and breezeless days, cyclical low and high tides are easy to predict. Certain turbine systems also harvest energy from both directions of tidal currents, allowing for uninterrupted energy production.

High durability: With up to 100 years of working use, tidal energy systems have four times the lifespan of a solar panel which typically has a warranty of 25 years. One of the most common types of tidal power plants - long concrete barrages usually built across river estuaries - can therefore be more economical than wind and solar plants if implemented on a large scale. In France, La Rance tidal power station in Brittany has been generating power for the region since 1966.

Efficiency: Due to the high density of water, tidal energy systems can produce energy even when passing water is moving relatively slowly.

Storm proofing: Tidal energy structures could also mitigate coastal flooding from storm surges. While more research is needed in order to properly assess their impact, one 2019 study published in the Journal of Ocean Engineering and Marine Energy suggests that a tidal energy system could have a significant effect if operated correctly.

ADVANTAGES OF TIDAL ENERGY

CHALLENGES

Building robust structures to withstand the corrosion of sea water comes at a high cost. Added to the price tag is expensive equipment for power generation as well as costs for connecting the system to the electricity grid. For example, the Sihwa tidal power station in South Korea - the largest installation in the world - cost an estimated $298m to build in 2011 and has a capacity of 254MW, according to High costs: IRENA. Comparing the construction cost with the capacity, Sihwa costs $117/kwh and produces electricity at $0.02/kwh.

Tidal energy systems require a very specific set of circumstances to operate efficiently. For example, the difference between high and low tides must be a minimum of five meters with current technology, and such tidal differences are only found in about Lack of locations:40 sites around the world.

Environmental impact: As with other marine-based energy systems, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of the potential impact on the ocean. Researchers are still figuring out the effect of the tidal barrage and mooring on sea movement and aquatic ecosystems. Electro-magnetic emissions might also disrupt sensitive marine species such as sharks, skates, rays, dolphins and turtles.

PROJECTS UNDERWAY

Storing tidal energy: In Scotland, an initiative from the European Marine Energy Centre plans to combine tidal power with vanadium flow batteries to produce continuous green hydrogen. Located on Eday island, Orkney, the system will store electricity generated by tidal turbines during high power periods and discharge it during low power periods - creating on-demand electricity to turn into hydrogen using a 670kW hydrogen electrolyser.

First U.S. project: In New York, marine energy specialist Verdant Power has secured the first commercial license for a tidal power plant in the country. An array of three turbines has been installed in New York City's East River and will provide clean electricity to Roosevelt Island through a distributed generation connection to Consolidated Edison's local electricity grid.

Floating tidal system: Canada's Sustainable Marine has developed a floating tidal energy platform prototype that has already undergone nearly two years of tests on the waters of Grand Passage, Nova Scotia. During comprehensive monitoring, there has not been any evidence of adverse effects on fish or marine life, and construction of three platforms is set to begin in 2021. They are projected to provide up to 9MW of renewable electricity to Nova Scotia's electrical grid.

Mixing it up: About a dozen technology companies around the world are also looking to add wave and tidal energy to existing offshore wind platforms. They argue that using a single floating base for multiple technologies can help improve the energy yield per unit of area. For example, U.S.-based Excipio Energy has designed a floating platform that can accommodate wind, wave, flow, mooring energy and ocean thermal energy conversion technologies all at the same time. Adding other energy sources to the mix can also complement offshore wind turbines by delivering power during breezeless periods.

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Tidal Energy: The Latest Innovations For Harnessing The Power Of Moving Water

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We tend to think about renewable energy in terms of the most common sources used today: the sun and the wind. But there is also an abundance of energy locked away in the world's moving water. (credit: Green Energy Futures)

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This is a company that makes tidal turbines. their turbines, they say are completely un-harmful with the environment. They have been making tidal turbines as well as other clean sources of energy and power storage for years. They are also looking for more ways to further the tidal power advancement. this is important because they are one of the biggest tidal power company's in the world and work to expand tidal energy all over the world.

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Nova Innovation

Best viewed on a device with a bigger screen...

Climate change is the biggest global challenge of this generation.

To tackle the climate emergency, we need to reduce carbon emissions on a massive scale and move away from fossil fuels. Simultaneously, the world's demand for energy continues to increase.

Renewable energy is essential for our future, but solar and wind are not sufficient to bridge the gap on their own. The sun does not always shine, and the wind does not always blow.

We need new sources of predictable renewable energy to complement wind and solar.

What is tidal energy?

Tidal energy is generated from the movement of water in our seas and oceans.

Tides are the name given to the rise and fall of sea levels around the world. They are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun on the earth.

The rise and fall of the tide results in large volumes of water flowing from one place to another. When the tide turns, water flows in the opposite direction. This cycle repeats day after day, and is predictable.

Why tidal energy?

The tide is one of the strongest forces of nature on Earth and it remains largely untapped as a source of energy.

Unlike other renewables, tidal energy is predictable to the minute - months, years and even decades in advance.

Nova's underwater tidal turbines have no visual impact on the landscape. They are completely hidden beneath the surface of the sea, with none of the visual issues faced by wind, solar and conventional fossil fuels.

Nova's tidal turbines work in harmony with the natural environment, with no barriers or barrages.

Water is 830 times denser than air. The high density of water means tidal energy has a much higher energy density than wind power. Tidal energy can generate the same amount of power as wind in a far smaller area.

The two types of Tidal Energy - Tidal Stream and Tidal Barrage/Lagoon

Both use the natural ebb and flow of the tide to generate clean predictable electricity but how they do it is not the same. The table below compares the two with their relative merits:

The different kinds of tidal energy technology

TIDAL STREAM

TIDAL BARRAGE / LAGOON

Description

TIDAL STREAM

Captures energy from the moving water in the tide using devices that look like underwater wind turbines. The flow of water causes the blades to spin and generate electricity.

TIDAL BARRAGE

Involves building a specialised dam across the width of a river/estuary to take advantage of the change in the tide levels to produce power. A tidal lagoon works on the same principle, but the dam walls form a loop from the shore, rather than across the width of the river.

Technology provider

TIDAL STREAM

This the type of tidal energy Nova Innovation develops

TIDAL BARRAGE

Others - these tend to major civil engineering infrastructure projects

Advantages

TIDAL STREAM

- No visual impact
- Small environmental footprint
- Quick build time
- Lower cost
- Long life
- No navigational impact

TIDAL BARRAGE

- Can be developed on a large scale as part of a wider infrastructure project
- Long operating life

Disadvantages

TIDAL STREAM

Currently smaller scale but capacity will increase as the industry matures

TIDAL BARRAGE

- Large environmental footprint upstream and downstream of the barrage. The footprint is reduced by using lagoons, but the environmental footprint is still significant
- Visual Impact
- Expensive
- Long build period
- Navigational impact

Progress over the last 5 years

TIDAL STREAM

- World's first tidal turbine arrays have become operational
- New projects sanctioned and under construction
- Technological advancements lowering the cost of tidal stream energy

TIDAL BARRAGE

No new tidal barrage or lagoons have been approved or built

What is different about Nova Innovation?

Nova Innovation is at the leading edge of tidal technology - we design, build and operate tidal turbines that generate electricity from the ebb and flow of the tide

Nova's underwater turbines have zero visual impact and work in harmony with the natural marine environment

Nova turbines can be installed in deep water, shallow water, estuaries and large rivers

In 2016, Nova installed the world's first offshore tidal array - three turbines located in Shetland, Scotland. The turbines have been generating clean energy and exporting to the national grid for over four years.

In 2018, Nova worked with Tesla to create energy storage alongside the tidal technology. This created the world's first grid connected tidal power station able to deliver energy on demand.

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Keywords for: Nova Innovation - Tidal Energy
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Climate change is the biggest global challenge of this generation. To tackle the climate emergency, we need to reduce carbon emissions on a massive scale and move away from fossil fuels. Simultaneously, the world's demand for energy continues to increase.Renewable energy is essential for our future, but solar and wind are not sufficient to bridge the gap on their own.

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Tidal power only has and impact in so many places but they have more coming in these upcoming projects. Tidal power has working, impactful energy supplies in La Rance in France (240 MW), Lake Sihwa in South Korea (254 MW), Annapolis in Canada (20 MW) and, Jiangxia in China (3.9 MW). And more projects to spread the tidal power supply are being made in Swansea Bay tidal lagoon in the UK, Meygen in the UK and other places like Russia, South Korea, India and the Philippines. This is important because it introduces tidal energy to new places in new ways!

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Oceans cover over two thirds of our planet's surface. The energy contained in the oceans has tremendous potential, including in the form of waves and tides. These sources have an estimated 337 GW. New technologies and projects represent a significant opportunity for renewable energy development in several countries.

The basics of tidal energy:

Tidal power is created using a head difference between two bodies of water. To create this difference, a wall separates the two water bodies. As the tide flows in or out, the wall blocks the flow of the tide and generates this head difference. When the head difference has reached the optimum design level, the water is forced to pass through holes in the wall, where turbines are placed to generate power. Since two tidal cycles occur per day, this head difference develops four times each day (in one cycle, the tide comes in and out).

Turbines convert the water energy into mechanical energy, and then into electricity by means of an electric generator as seen in the video below.

Since tidal head differences generally measure a few meters, typical turbines include , Archimedes screws and bulb turbines . One other way to generate power from tides uses turbines on the seabed , driven by the kinetic energy of the moving tidal flow, similar to wind turbines in airflows.

Tidal power projects exist in France, South Korea, Russia, the UK and China, among other places. Research suggests that in the UK over 20% of the national energy demand could be satisfied by exploiting tidal and wave energy sites around the country. Famous tidal power plants include:

La Rance in France (240 MW)

Lake Sihwa in South Korea (254 MW)

Annapolis in Canada (20 MW)

Jiangxia in China (3.9 MW)

The latest projects and innovations in tidal energy:

Tidal energy offers a long-term, predictable form of clean energy. Ongoing projects like the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon in the UK (320 MW) has generated positive interest from local people and government institutions. New tidal projects are under consideration throughout the world, including locations that were until now considered unsuitable. Some tidal plants under construction include t he Tidal Project (398 MW) in the UK, while others are in development in Russia, South Korea, India and the Philippines.

To support these projects, tidal power engineers are refining existing technologies, with a special focus on the improvement of turbines. Modified bulb turbines with an additional set of guide vanes allow better management and control of the flow through the turbine. Bulb turbines can reach very high power output. Two examples include:

The 7 meter diameter bulb turbines in the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon that can produce 16 MW.

The innovative Straflo turbines can reach values of 20 MW, as in the Annapolis plant.

Archimedes screws could be employed as a fully submerged tidal stream device, or they can be enclosed in a pipe system. Archimedes screws also have the additional advantage of "fish friendliness". Finally, water wheels under testing use inflow hydraulic structures to better control flow and power.

The future of tidal energy:

In the short term, tidal energy will likely represent a small share of total renewable energy. But these projects and new technologies demonstrate its growing relevance in specific locations, complementing more traditional sources like wind and solar.

If you have any questions or would like to know if we can help your business with its innovation challenges, please contact us here or email us at solutions@prescouter.com.

About the author

Emanuele Quaranta

Emanuele Quaranta is project officer (scientific research) at the Joint Research Center of the European Commission (Water Directorate), while previously was post Ph.D. researcher at Politecnico di Torino (Turin, Italy) in hydraulic engineering, hydropower (expert in water wheels), eco-hydraulics (focus on fish passages) and fluid mechanics (CFD simulations). Emanuele was hydropower expert for European Commission in 2017. He is scientific referee for international journals and international congresses. He is also a scientific divulgator, scientific consultant for companies, and advisor for FederIdroelettrica (Italian association of hydropower). Connect with Emanuele on LinkedIn or learn more about hydropower innovations in his blog Hydropower Altervista.

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The wave of tidal energy is on the rise with these innovations and projects - PreScouter - Custom Intelligence from a Global Network of Experts

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Oceans cover over two thirds of our planet's surface. The energy contained in the oceans has tremendous potential, including in the form of waves and tides. These sources have an estimated 337 GW. New technologies and projects represent a significant opportunity for renewable energy development in several countries.

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In my personal opinion there are literally no downsides (other than the expenses) that make tidal energy a bad source of energy. It's contestant in the way that it creates energy literally non-stop and its proficient in creating the energy that it needs to create! not to mention it has no negative effect on the environment whatsoever! Living in Colorado where we have no ocean, so there is no what to have tidal energy here, I still think its a great way to create cleaner, more renewable energy and should be done more where it can be!