Tidal Energy

Definition of Tidal Energy

Tidal energy is energy

derived from the movement
of the ocean tides.

Water has mass. When it

moves, it has kinetic energy
which can be harnessed.
Kinetic energy is the energy
of motion.

What causes tides? What is tidal energy used for?

Ocean tides are the response of the ocean to the gravitational attraction of the moon as it orbits Today, tidal power plants are
the Earth. Tides also respond to the gravitational attraction of the Earth as it orbits the Sun but to being built to generate
a lesser extent. electricity

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Tides on a Global Scale: Tidal Bulges

Due to the Moon’s gravitational pull, tidal bulges develop. The tidal bulges move
as the Earth rotates and the Moon changes position relative to the Earth.

The part of the Earth closer to the Moon is more strongly attracted Since the Earth rotates a full turn every day, the point on the Earth
to the Moon than the part farther from the Moon which is less that is being pulled toward the moon is constantly changing. As
strongly attracted. So, the close part gets closer and the far part the angle changes between the Moon and the Equator, the tidal
gets farther. This makes the elongation in both directions that we bulges change position on the Earth. Most places on Earth have
observe in the illustration above. It also causes there to be two high two high tides and two lows every day because of the Earth’s
and low tides each day for most of the oceans of the world. rotation and the Moon’s change of position.

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Tides on a Global Scale: Tidal Patterns

As water moves around the Earth, tidal patterns develop.

A tidal bulge moves around the Earth every day. Since the Earth has continents that disrupt the even flow of water, a
complex pattern emerges. In some places, the water stretches out more toward the Moon. In other places, tidal nodes
occur where the water does not really deform at all.

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Brief History of Tidal Energy

People have harnessed the tides and used its energy for many centuries.
Tide mills—which are the precursors to today’s tidal power plants— have
great similarity to water wheels. The difference is that water must first be
collected from the incoming tide before it can be released to rotate the
water wheel.

The oldest, excavated tide mill is Tide mills became more common
dated to the year 619. It was during the Middle Ages. A tide
discovered at Northern Ireland’s mill would have a storage pond
Nendrum Monastery on Mahee which filled up as the tide came
Island in Strangford Lough. The in. As the tide went out, the pond
power generated by this mill emptied and the moving water
was probably used for grinding rotated a water wheel.
grain.

By the 18th century, 76 tide The Rance estuary in France was

mills were being used in London home to some of the historical
alone. At one time there were tide mills. Now the Rance river
about 750 tide mills in operation has the world’s first tidal power
around the shores of the generating station. It opened in
Atlantic Ocean. This included 1966. As an improvement to
about 300 on North American early tide mills, it generates
shores, about 200 in the British power during high tide and low
Isles, and about 100 in France. tide.

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Harnessing Tidal Energy: Barrages

One method for harnessing tidal energy is a barrage, or tidal barrier, which is very much like a dam.
When the water level is higher on one side of the barrage than the other, water is allowed to flow
through the turbines to generate electricity.

How a tidal barrage works

During high tide the gates are closed and water is stored “upstream” of the
tidal barrage. As the tide falls, the water level on the downstream side of
the dam drops. When it’s low enough, the valves are opened for water to
flow from the higher, upstream side—through turbines—to the lower,
downstream side. The movement of the water rotates the turbines to
generate electricity.

Due to the design of the barrage, the reverse can also happen. When the
tide reaches its low point and the water level behind the dam is at the low
tide level, the valves are again closed and the tide rises again. Water rises
on the “downstream” side and when the valves are opened, flows
“upstream” where the water level is at low tide.

Thus, barrages can effectively generate power four main times during the
day—during the two fall and the two rising tides.

There are only a few operational tidal

barrages in the world. The Rance River in
France and the Bay of Fundy in Canada
have the only large-scale barrages in the
world with generating capacities of 240
MW and 20 MW respectively. There is a
small scale plant in Kislaya Guba, Russia
which generates 400 kW. A few countries
have plans for other future projects.
Rance Tidal Power Station (France, 1966) Annapolis Royal Generating Station (Canada, 1984)

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Harnessing Tidal Energy: Tidal Stream Systems

When there are obstructions such as continents, inlets, islands, etc., water piles up against the
obstruction and flows rapidly past when and wherever it can. This makes tidal currents. These
currents can be used to drive underwater turbines, which is another method for harnessing tidal energy.

Underwater turbines are anchored to the sea Lots of underwater turbine designs are being The world’s first commercial tidal stream
floor so the moving water from tidal currents prototyped. The Evopod began testing in generator is SeaGen which was installed in
can rotate the blades. Just like wind turbines, June 2008. It uses a tether rather than a rigid Northern Ireland’s Strangford Lough in April
the rotating motion of the blades generates anchor. The turbine is mounted on a floating, 2008 and started generating electricity for
electricity which can be sent to the utility semi-submerged structure. This design is the grid in July 2008. SeaGen is an axial
grid. easier to turbine, a tall tower bolted to the seabed.
maintain and The blades can capture the motion of tides
can capture the going in as well as
fastest tidal out. There are
currents which discussions to
are just below build entire tidal
the surface. farms using
turbines like these.

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A Relative of Tidal Energy: Wave Energy

Wave-driven power is a type of power generation related to tidal power.

Rather than relying on the tidal movements in large bodies of water, wave energy
is derived from wind-driven waves. It can be used to generate electricity.

Using buoys that float in the waves is one method Using a surface following device is another method for capturing wave energy.
for capturing wave energy. The buoys are An articulated ‘snake’ floats on the ocean surface. Its joints are connected to
anchored to the ocean floor, and as waves raise hydraulic rams that move with the wave motion, forcing hydraulic fluid to
and lower the floating device, electricity is move small turbines that power generators. This is a picture taken at
generated in an electric coil. The diagram depicts a Portugal’s Aguçadoura Wave Park, the world’s first commercial wave farm.
prototype created by Oregon State University.

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Benefits and Challenges of Tidal Energy

BENEFITS CHALLENGES

Tidal energy offers significant benefits, There are challenges to using tidal energy, which
which include: include:

Tides are more predictable than Harnessing tidal energy can be expensive. Barrages
wind and sunlight. They have a are very expensive to construct.
consistent pattern. Although tides are predictable, there is only a short
Tidal energy is a sustainable energy period of time when they yield the highest power.
source and continuously available. Installing and running a tidal power station can
Tidal energy is clean; it does not disrupt the balance of the local ecosystem.
pollute the water or air. Equipment used to collect tidal energy is in contact
with water so maintenance is difficult due to
corrosion.
Sometimes the best tidal currents are unavailable
because they are located in shipping channels or
they are too far from the grid.
In general, a tidal range of at least 6 meters is
required to make tidal power generation practical or
economical.

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