Tidal energy by Nathan Ryan

Tidal Energy

76647 — 2024-04-17 03:22:07 UTC

Tidal energy is a energy source that produces energy through the gradual rise and fall of the earth's tides. Tidal energy works by the incoming tides filling up a barge with water. That water is then released during the outgoing tide and spinning the turbine. This generates electricity in both directions.

Where is tidal energy used in the world

76647 — 2024-04-17 03:25:23 UTC

Tidal energy is used the most in south Korea and in France. The plant in south Korea has a generation capacity of 254 megawatts. The plant in France has a generation capacity of 240 megawatts.

Cost

76647 — 2024-04-17 03:28:35 UTC

Tidal energy is 0.02 cents per kilowatt hour. Compared to other sources like wind power at 0.2 cents per kilowatt hour it is quite expensive. Coal power cost 6.5 cents per kilowatt hour. Nuclear power costs 20-30 cents per kilowatt hour.

Environmental impact

76647 — 2024-04-17 03:31:30 UTC

Tidal energy takes up a very small amount of space as the tidal range that is usable is only 10 feet. The area that the barrages are built in is completely disrupted. The changes in water levels harms plant and animal life that is living there. This lowers the overall salinity of the lagoon and this changes which organisms are able to live there. In terms of waste it creates no waste other that affecting the ecosystem where it is the environmental impact of tidal energy is almost none.

Pros

76647 — 2024-04-17 03:35:23 UTC

Tidal energy is clean, renewable, and extremely sustainable resource. This is a method of generating that is completely underutilized and has great potential in the future. Water is hundreds times more dense than wind making it far better at generating energy than air.

Cons

76647 — 2024-04-17 03:39:06 UTC

The cost of building a tidal plant is quite high at 3-15 million dollars but over time the investment can pay off. Over time silt can build up on the tidal plants causing problems to the barge. Plants and animals that are living near the tidal station are greatly affected and it can impact the migration patterns of animals that are migrating through the area. The are very few places that tidal power can be utilized due to a difference of at least 5 meters between high and low tides is required for energy to be produced.

What if the world would have to shift to tidal energy?

76647 — 2024-04-17 04:03:12 UTC

Tidal energy can only be used in very exclusive places in the world. With the world's current energy even if tidal energy is fully utilized it would not be enough to fully support the world. It would be relatively easy to setup as the technology already exists to setup it up. It would be challenging to support the world as it only works in exclusive areas. The world would have to reduce it's energy use and would not do well in countries that are not by the coast.

Who would be supportive of it

76647 — 2024-04-17 04:05:51 UTC

Environmentalists would be very supportive of it because the environmental impact is low and is very sustainable for the future of humanity.

Who would be against it

76647 — 2024-04-17 04:08:32 UTC

The people that would be against it would be people that use high amounts of energy because for the world to run on tidal people would have to greatly decrease their energy consumption. This would upset the fossil fuel industry because it would put many out of jobs that worked in those industries.