Tidal power

Tidal power, also called tidal energy, is a form of hydropower that converts the energy of tides into useful forms of 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, cross flow 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 [1][2] earliest occurrences date from the Middle Ages, or even from Roman times. The world's first large-scale tidal power plant (the Rance Tidal Power Station) became operational in 1966.

Generating methods

The world's first commercial-scale and grid-connected tidal stream generator SeaGen in Strangford Lough.[5] The strongwake shows the power in the tidal current.

Top-down view of a DTP dam. Blue and dark red colors indicate low and high tides, respectively.

Tidal power can be classified into three generating methods: [edit]Tidal

stream generator

Main article: Tidal stream generator Tidal stream generators (or TSGs) make use of the kinetic energy of moving water to power turbines, in a similar way to wind turbines that use wind to power turbines. [edit]Tidal

barrage

Main article: Tidal barrage

Tidal barrages make use of the potential energy in the difference in height (or head) between high and low tides. Barrages are essentially dams across the full width of a tidal estuary. [edit]Dynamic

tidal power

Main article: Dynamic tidal power Dynamic tidal power (or DTP) is a theoretical generation technology that would exploit an interaction between potential and kinetic energies in tidal flows. It proposes that very long dams (for example: 30 50 km length) be built from coasts straight out into the sea or ocean, without enclosing an area. Tidal phase differences are introduced across the dam, leading to a significant water-level differential in shallow coastal seas featuring strong coast-parallel oscillating tidal currents such as found in the UK, China and Korea.

Wave power
Wave power is the transport of energy by ocean surface waves, and the capture of that energy to do useful work for example, electricity generation, water desalination, or the pumping of water (into reservoirs). Machinery able to exploit wave power is generally known as a wave energy converter (WEC). Wave power is distinct from the diurnal flux of tidal power and the steady gyre of ocean currents. Wave power generation is not currently a widely employed commercial technology although there have been [1] attempts at using it since at least 1890. In 2008, the first experimental wave farm was opened in [2] Portugal, at the Aguadoura Wave Park.

Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using: wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sailsto propel ships. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines which are connected to the electric power transmission network. Offshore wind farms can harness more frequent and powerful winds than are available to land-based installations and have less visual impact on the landscape but construction costs are considerably higher. Small onshore wind facilities are used to provide electricity to isolated locations and utility companies increasingly buy back surplus electricity produced by small domestic wind turbines. Although a variable source of power, the intermittency of wind seldom creates problems when used to supply up to 20% of total electricity demand, but as the proportion increases problems arise such as: increased costs, a need to use storage such as pumped-storage hydroelectricity, a need to upgrade the

grid, or a lowered ability to supplant conventional production. Power management techniques such as: excess capacity storage, dispatchable backing supply (usually natural gas), exporting and importing power to neighboring areas or reducing demand when wind production is low, can mitigate these problems. Wind power, as an alternative to fossil fuels, is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean produces [4] no greenhouse gas emissions during operation and uses little land. The overall cost per unit of energy [5] produced is similar to the cost for new coal and natural gas installations. Any effects on the environment are generally less problematic than those from other power sources. Although wind power is a popular form of energy generation, the construction of wind farms is not universally welcomed

[1][2][3]