Renewable tidal energy is generated by ocean tides using underwater turbines or tidal generators. It is a reliable and effective form of alternative energy, but there are few locations with sufficient tidal range for large-scale power generation. Tidal barrages and weirs may also harm the environment.
Renewable tidal energy, also known simply as tidal energy or wave energy, is the energy generated by ocean tides. Because ocean tides are created by the moon’s gravitational pull, they generate energy. People can harvest this energy, and even create more of it, through the use of sizable underwater turbines, or tidal generators, in oceanic areas known to move at high tides. These turbines are very similar to wind turbines, although they are much more powerful, as water is much denser than air.
During high tide, ocean water can be collected behind a weir and then released when the tide ebbs. When the water is delivered, it passes through the turbine. By harnessing the kinetic energy of high and low tides in the turbine, electricity can be produced. By eliminating the need for other sources of electricity that can have a large environmental impact, renewable energy from tides is considered an effective form of alternative energy.
In addition to weirs, tidal fences can be used to harvest wave energy. Composed of vertical axis turbines mounted on a fence, they allow the passage of water and convey it to the turbines for use. The use of tidal fences is generally ideal in areas where the fence can connect two separate landmasses.
Because the rise and fall of ocean tides are constant, renewable tidal energy is considered to be as reliable as solar power and other forms of green energy. Sources of green energy include wind energy, geothermal energy and even nuclear energy. All of these forms of energy are thought to have less impact on the environment than those that rely on fossil fuels. Using renewable tidal energy is seen as a potentially viable solution to environmental problems such as global warming.
There are also some disadvantages of using renewable energy from tides. Projects developed by the scientific community have yet to produce a fraction of the amount of electricity people use every day. While the oceans are vast, with an unlimited supply of waves, there are few locations with sufficient tidal range and practicable inlets for use, making large-scale power generation difficult.
It has also been suggested that efforts to harvest renewable tidal energy may actually be harming the environment. Weirs used in river estuaries to harvest tidal energy may have the ability to change water flow over time, which could cause a negative effect on the habitat of sea animals, plants and birds. Tidal barrages can also affect ocean recreation and navigation. Although tidal fences are considered more environmentally friendly and less expensive than weirs, they too can create disturbances for marine life.
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