Richard Kotite Cluster 2
Tidal Power: The solution to our energy needs?
Abstract: Tidal power is a type of energy source that is slowly becoming more prominent
as our energy crisis continues. Using a combination of dams, fences, and turbines, many
countries are utilizing the almost untapped resources of inexhaustible tidal power.
Created due to the gravitational forces of the moon, the tides of the day are highly
predictable and can be used incredibly efficiently. This type of energy is ever so slightly
gaining popularity as companies fight for coastal rights. The economic and
environmental aspects of this industry are also constantly changing as the world struggles
to replace its addiction on fossil fuels. All these factors contribute to the pro’s and con’s
of the tidal power industry.
Background: Renewable resources are becoming important as fossil fuel costs rise and
global warming continues. Tidal power, though only used for currently 0.01 percent of
the US energy, is slowly becoming a topic of importance in this desperate economy.
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine whether or not tidal power is an
appropriate resource for our growing energy needs as a flourishing global economy? Both
the advantages and disadvantages of tidal power will be evaluated in the context of
costs/benefits, ways of obtaining power, and environmental harms.
Discussion:
Costs/Benefits:
Many companies are fighting for the rights of only a limited amount of coast line
available for tidal power. Congress filters through the tons of requests only selecting a
small lucky few of investors to harness the precious energy available through tidal power.
Tidal energy could only be harnessed in places with significant water level
changes. The conversion of the potential energy that the tides will hold are more or less
80% of the available energy. Consequently only 20% of the potential energy is lost
creating a fairly efficient means of extracting electricity from this natural occurrence.
Because seawater has a much higher density than air, ocean currents carry significantly
more energy than air currents (wind). So even though there might be less tidal power
available, the properties of water create a different scenario.
Only 40 places in the world are ideal for making tidal power plants meaning they
have a tide of 16 feet or more. The energy of the tides must be immense in order to draw
in the venture capitalists fueling this industry. Not all of these sites can or will be utilized
for a variety of reasons. Mainly it is due to the inherent human characteristic to save
beauty and retain the status quo by not having large plants in 40 sites that include the
picturesque San Francisco bay.
According to Simon Tander, the capital required to start construction of barrages,
which are currently the main tidal power unites, has been the main problem to their
deployment. Few investors are creating dams, as the long and difficult payoffs make it an
unreasonable venture. In terms of long term costs, once the construction of the barrage is
complete, there are very small maintenance and running costs and the turbines only need
replacing once around every 30 years. However, over the long time period in which a
dam is operational it can receive free fuel from the tidal movements. The initial work and
time it takes to create such a barrage is immense and therefore are only highly profitable
in a very select few locations.
Ways of obtaining the power:
• A barrage or dam is used to create electricity out of the tidal energy in the water
by forcing it into turbines thereby activating a generator. Gates and turbines are
installed along the dam. When, in an appropriate location, the tides of the water
create an adequate water difference on opposite sides of the a gate is opened
thereby enabling tons of gallons of water to flow through turbines which in turn
rotate an electrical generator that produces electricity.
• Tidal fences are immense and can reach across channels or long straights between
large bodies of land. The turnstiles spin on a tidal fence spin in response to the
currents that run at about 5.8 knots. They generate a large amount of electricity
due to their large area in comparison with regular tidal fans.
• Tidal turbines look like wind turbines. They are arrayed underwater in rows, as in
some wind farms. The turbines function best where coastal currents run at
between 3.6 and 4.9 knots . According to Bondi Hermann, in currents of that
speed, a 15-meter (49.2-feet) diameter tidal turbine can generate as much energy
as a 60-meter (197-feet) diameter wind turbine. Ideal locations for tidal turbine
farms are close to shore in water depths of 20–30 meters (65.5–98.5 feet).
Environmental Harms:
Fish and other marine wildlife can be harmed through the implementation of
underwater fans. Tidal power plants can block marine migration as they provide as a
difficult underwater barrier. Tidal fences also create the same problem and therefore
turbines are becoming the ideal generator as they provide as a safe and efficient way of
extracting the tidal power of the sea. The environment itself can also change as the result
of barrages implemented within a delicate ecosystem. However, in comparison with
wind energy, tidal power is very clean and doesn’t kill the thousands of bird and insects
that the gargantuan blades do. It is also more environmentally friendly in comparison to
nuclear energy which requires disposal of extremely dangerous wastes.
Conclusion
Assuming that there are only several tidal power systems existing in the world,
this energy source provides a clean but small amount of energy. However in comparison
to other energy sources tidal energy still provides as a large source of energy.
However regarding the entire energy composition of the world the energy
provided by even renewals in general are insignificant. Hopefully in the future new ways
can be discovered that can enable more nations to extract more clean power.
People inherently love their coastlines. Most of the population on earth is in fact
concentrated near water. However in our current situation, tidal power is necessary to
relieve our dependence on fossil fuels. Currently we use a lot more capital investing in
wind energy than in tidal power. Why? Because most individuals rarely see the millions
of gigantic fans scattered over rural parts of the world, in comparison to the huge
barrages we would see on a daily basis if we invested more into tidal power. In
conclusion, whether we use this prime real estate for energy or not is not just a question
of how but why?
Work Cited
Bondi, Hermann. "The Simplified Mathematics of Tidal Power." Oxford Journals. 2 Mar.
2004. 30 July 2008 <http://teamat.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/1/3/106.pdf>.
Tander, Simon. "How Tidal Power Plants Work." About.com. 30 Mar. 2007. 28 July
2008 <http://inventors.about.com/od/tstartinventions/a/tidal_power.htm>.
"Tidal Power - Generating electricity from tidal currents." Tidal Power. 30 Feb. 2008. 20
July 2008 <www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/hydro/tidal-power/>.
"Tidal power." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 29 Jul 2008, 15:35 UTC. Wikimedia
Foundation, Inc. 30 Jul 2008
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tidal_power&oldid=228620488>.
"Tidal Power." Blue Energy. 6 Dec. 2005. 29 July 2008
<http://www.bluenergy.com/tidal.html>
"Tidal Power." Tidal Power. 12 Jan. 2000. 28 July 2008
<http://www.esru.strath.ac.uk/eande/web_sites/01-02/re_info/tidal%20power.htm>.
