Tidal Power: A New Way of Generating Electricity?
Tidal Power: Do You Know Much about this New Way of Generating Electricity?
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There are several types of renewal forms of energy, but one has huge potential due to the large virtually inexhaustible amount of power it could produce if designed for that purpose. That is tidal power. Some may not have even heard of this type of renewable energy source.
When it comes to renewable energy discussions, one term that does not get a lot of play is tidal power. This new form of generating electricity is in the minds of those residing in coastal communities. It is said to rival in power what solar and wind energy are proclaimed to offer those who harness them. There are some very serious problems with the use of tidal power, which are not always readily apparent or even consistently pointed out to those potentially affected by them.
Unfortunately, those who wonder if it is possible to see tidal power as the new form of electricity will learn rather quickly that while logically it is indeed a possibility. The technology involved requires the utilization of turbines that are hazardous to marine life and even the occasional swimmer who might come too close for comfort. . Shrouded turbines are the type that may be hazardous to marine life, as fish or marine mammals can get sucked into the turbine blades, through the venturi because of the increased force or flow of water.
Tides are the rise and fall of the sea water level. They are caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun on the water, and they can change at any time. Tides are often very powerful and the sea can move very quickly when the tide is coming into land. When the tide approaches land the amount of water rushing forwards can be measured in terms of millions of gallons. Tide-power generators work like wind turbines. As tides rush in and out, water flows over the turbine blades, causing lift like an airplane wing.
While in decades past this would not have been considered a serious component of the debate, news organizations filming the death of marine mammals in particular when being inadvertently drawn into the turbine machinery have made tidal power one of the least attractive forms of renewable energy thus far
Even if the marine life and overall well-being were not as big a consideration as it obviously must be, the fact that the placement of the turbines required for tidal energy to be generated requires an error free placement makes this a costly proposition. One minute mistake in placement and the turbine is not only useless, but might actually impact the effectiveness of other turbines built nearby.
