Introduction

Good morning, everyone! Today, we’re talking about something we all use
every second but rarely think about: electricity. It powers our phones, lights
and is running the AC that's keeping us comfortable. But to know where that
electricity comes from and how it is being produced is much more vital

This is where renewable energy comes in. Unlike coal or gas, renewables like
hydropower and tidal energy don’t replenish which means they will NOT run
out because they can be replaced by nature at faster rate than they are
being used) Examples of renewable energy are wind, water, geothermal,
solar and many more…..

Now, one of the most reliable renewables is water energy. It’s used in three
main ways: hydroelectric power, tidal power, and wave energy. All three work
on the same basic principle—harnessing the kinetic energy of moving water
to spin turbines and generate electricity.

Hydropower generates electricity by harnessing the energy of moving water

(typically from rivers or reservoirs) and converting it into electrical energy.

How Hydropower Works

First, a dam is built across a river, creating a large reservoir of water. This
water is held high up, storing massive amounts of potential energy because
of its height.

When electricity is needed, gates open to release water through giant pipes
called penstocks. Gravity pulls the water down at high speed, converting all
that stored potential energy into kinetic energy which we know is the energy
of motion.

The rushing water hits the curved blades of a turbine with tremendous force
which makes them spin rapidly. This converts the water's kinetic energy into
mechanical energy as the turbine shaft rotates.

The turbine is linked to a generator, where spinning copper coils inside a

magnetic field push electrons to move—creating electricity through
electromagnetic induction.

Finally, the water flows safely back into the river downstream, while
the electricity travels through power lines to our homes and
businesses.

“But rivers aren’t the only water source we can tap into”
 Tidal Energy – The Ocean’s Power

There's another powerful source we're harnessing - our oceans. The same
electricity powering our homes and businesses today can also be generated
by the endless motion of the sea.
Instead of relying on rivers and dams, it uses the ocean’s tides which are
driven by the moon’s gravity.

Tidal energy
 It makes use of tides which are the cyclic rise and fall of sea levels due
mainly to the gravitational attraction force between the earth and the
moon and occur twice a day.
 We get a high tide which is where the sea level rises and its flow
through the low tide level.
 This converts GPE of the water into K.E of the water, this high-speed
water passes through turbines and it’s transfers the K.E of the water to
the K.E of the turbines.
 The turbines are connected to the generator which causes the
generator to spin and generate electricity.
 By placing tidal barrages which are just big underwater dam in tidal
rivers, we can trap the water as the tide comes in so that when the tide
goes back out its left with a much higher water level on one side of the
dam.
 The force of released water spins turbine blades inside the barrage,
which turn connected generators to produce electricity.After passing
through, the water simply returns to the ocean unharmed. This process
happens twice daily with the tides, making it a reliable source of clean
energy

Pros and cons

Low greenhouse gas emissions (BOTH)

Hydropower is a clean source because it generates electricity without

emitting greenhouse gases or other pollution, decreasing fossil fuel
consumption, thereby reducing air pollution and global warming.

Reliable and consistent energy supply(Hydro)

Hydropower is more reliable than wind or solar because it isn't dependent on

sunshine or wind speed since it can produce electricity at a consistent rate.

High Reliability – Predictable Power Generation (Tidal)

Tidal energy is ultra-reliable because tides follow the moon's cycle perfectly.
Unlike solar or wind, we know exactly when and how much power tides will
deliver

Efficient & Continuous – Dual-Cycle Generation (Tidal)

Tidal systems can generate power in both directions. When the tide comes
in, water spins the turbines one way. When it goes out, the same turbines
spin the opposite way. This means we get two reliable energy cycles daily.

Fish Migration Problems(Hydro)

Many fish species, like salmon, rely on free-flowing rivers to migrate and
spawn.Dams block migration routes, reducing fish populations unless fish
ladders or bypass systems are installed (which are not always effective).

Dam Breaks and Human Relocation(Hydro)

A dam failure can lead to massive flooding downstream, causing loss of life,
property damage, and ecological disaster. Large dams can flood entire

communities, requiring the resettlement of thousands (sometimes millions)

of people.

Limited Locations (Tide)

"Tidal energy only works in specific coastal areas where geography naturally
amplifies tidal currents—typically narrow bays

Intermittent Output (Tide)

"While predictable, tidal power isn’t continuous—it generates electricity in
bursts during tidal shifts (every ~6 hours), creating gaps in production unlike
steady fossil fuel or nuclear that produce electricity 24/7) tidal power

Ending

To summarize, hydropower and tidal energy are both effective ways to

produce clean electricity from moving water. Hydropower works well in
rivers, while tidal energy uses ocean tides. Each has advantages like being
renewable and reliable, but also challenges like environmental impacts.
These energy sources will be important for our future as we work toward
cleaner power solutions. Thank you.