Tidal power, also called tidal energy, is a form of hydropower that converts the energy of tides

into electricity or other useful forms of power. The first large-scale tidal power plant (the Rance
Tidal Power Station) started operation in 1966.

Although not yet widely used, tidal power has potential for future electricity generation. Tides
are more predictable than wind energy and solar power. Among sources of renewable energy,
tidal power has traditionally suffered from relatively high cost and limited availability of sites
with sufficiently high tidal ranges or flow velocities, thus constricting its total availability.
However, many recent technological developments and improvements, both in design (e.g.
dynamic tidal power, tidal lagoons) and turbine technology (e.g. new axial turbines, crossflow
turbines), indicate that the total availability of tidal power may be much higher than previously
assumed, and that economic and environmental costs may be brought down to competitive
levels.

Historically, tide mills have been used, both in Europe and on the Atlantic coast of North
America. The earliest occurrences date from the Middle Ages, or even from Roman times
Tidal energy devices exploit the natural rise and fall of coastal tidal waters caused principally by
the interaction of the gravitational fields of the Sun and Moon. The tide moves a huge amount of
water twice each day. Additional monthly and annual lunar cycles vary the strength of these
currents, and narrow and shallow constrictions produce the fastest and most powerful
movements of current. Different coastlines experiences different fluctuations in tides, with some
estuaries accentuating the effect creating tidal ranges of up to 11 metres.
Like many other alternative energies, tidal energy is not really anything new. Tide mills were in
use on the coasts of Spain, France and the UK before 1100 AD and in tidal estuaries around 1800
AD (the Schelde River in Belgium). The difference between the tide mill and today's tidal power
plant is the size of the unit and the amount of energy generated.
There are basically two methodologies for creating tidal power:
• by building semi-permeable barrages across estuaries with a high tidal range to dam the
water - barrages allow tidal waters to fill an estuary via sluices and to empty through
turbines
• by harnessing offshore tidal streams - tidal streams can be harnessed using offshore
underwater devices similar to wind turbines.
Dams are based on using a barrage at a bay or estuary with a large tidal range. Power is
generated primarily at ebb tides as the barrage creates a significant head of water, much like a
hydroelectric dam, only smaller. The ebb and flow of the tides can be used to turn a turbine, or it
can be used to push air through a pipe, which then turns a turbine. Large barrage facilities can
have large lock gates, like the ones used on canals to allow ship s to pass.
Barrage technology is very well established at La Rance, France where a 240 MW plant has
operated since 1966. Tidal dams have a serious drawback. Estuaries are amongst the world's
most productive and sensitive ecosystems, and the flooding by these barrages causes a great
disruption to their natural processes. For this reason this type of tidal energy capture is not
considered sustainable.
Harnessing offshore tidal streams has the advantage of being much cheaper to build, and does
not have the environmental problems that a tidal barrage would bring. The range of suitable sites
is far greater also.
Disadvantages:
• barrage systems are costly to build, and affect a very wide area - the environment is
changed for many kilometres both up- and down-stream
• the tide needs to actually be moving, therefore they only provide power for
approximately 10 hours each day
• reduced flushing, winter icing and erosion considerably change the ecosystem
• is only available in a small number of regions - it requires a basin or gulf that has a mean
tidal amplitude of 7 metres or above. Also need semi-diurnal tides where there are two
high and low tides everyday.
Advantages:
• is a renewable energy source
• needs no fossil fuel
• offers free power - once the system is built
• is a reliable source of electricity
• produces no greenhouse gases or other pollutants
• is a predictable system
• offshore tidal stream turbines and vertical-axis turbines are not very expensive to build
and do not have a large environmental impact
• may protect a large stretch of coastline against damage from high storm tides
• can provide readymade road bridges
• the economic life of a tidal power plant is expected long - 75-100years, compared to 35
years for a conventional fossil fuel generating plant.
Tidal energy is currently more expensive to generate than conventional energy or that from many
other renewable sources.
Tides are generated through a combination of forces exerted by the gravitational pull of the sun
and the moon and the rotation of the earth. The relative motion of the three bodies produces
different tidal cycles which affect the range of the tides. In addition, the tidal range is increased
substantially by local effects such as shelving, funnelling, reflection and resonance.
Energy can be extracted from tides by creating a reservoir or basin behind a barrage and then
passing tidal waters through turbines in the barrage to generate electricity. Tidal energy is
extremely site specific requires mean tidal differences greater than 4 metres and also favourable
topographical conditions, such as estuaries or certain types of bays in order to bring down costs
of dams etc.

Since India is surrounded by sea on three sides, its potential to hamess tidal energy has been
recognised by the Government of India. Potential sites for tidal power development have already
been located. The most attractive locations are the Gulf of Cambay and the Culf of Kachchh on
the west coast where the maximum tidal range is 11 m and 8 m with average tidal range of 6.77
m and 5.23 m respectively. The Ganges Delta in the Sunderbans in West Bengal also has good
locations for small scale tidal power development. The maximum tidal range in Sunderbans is
approximately 5 m with an average tidal range of 2.97 m. The identified economic tidal power
potential in India is of the order of 8000-9000 MW with about 7000 MW in the Gulf of Cambay
about 1200 MW in the Gulf of Kachchh and less than 100 MW in Sundarbans. The Kachchh
Tidal Power Project with an installed capacity of about 900 MW is estimated to cost about Rs.
1460/- crore generating lectricity at about 90 paise per unit. The techno-economic feasibility
report is now being examined.