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Tidal Power
Tidal Power is the energy of the moving water of the tides, which can be harnessed to generate electricity. This is a green, renewable energy of the future.
352 Questions
What are the disadvantages of renewable tidal power as an energy source?
- Tidal power plants can only be put where there is sufficient tidal flow. This limits the number of them and the places they can power.
- Tidal power is often very expensive.
- The turbines used can kill appreciable numbers of fish. They can also prevent the movement of fish up and down rivers that might be essential spawning grounds.
- They can often cause difficulties for the movement of shipping.
- There are environmental changes that happen when tidal lagoons or barrages are built. One is the change in salinity of the water in inlets. Another change is increased turbidity (how unclear the water is) and sediment.
- Compared to other energy sources, this is not too bad, but it seems to be only a small part of the answer to our energy needs.
A:
- Holding back the tide allows silt to build up on the river bed.
- The dams and barrages sometimes interfere with shipping.
- You will need to find a way to connect the electricity to the grid.
- Pose same threats as large dams, altering the flow of saltwater in and out of estuaries, which changes the hydrology and salinity and possibly negatively affects the marine mammals that use the estuaries as their habitat
- Turbidity decreases as a result of smaller volume of water being exchanged between the basin and the sea.
- The average salinity inside the basin decreases, also affecting the ecosystem
- A barrage across an estuary is very expensive to build, and affects a very wide area - the environment is changed for many miles upstream and downstream. Many birds rely on the tide uncovering the mud flats so that they can feed.
- There are few suitable sites for tidal barrages.
- Only provides power for around 10 hours each day, when the tide is actually moving in or out.
- It only provides about 7% of the power needed for England and Wales that means that some people get their energy close to free and some pay a lot of money
- Water is not replenished, it cannot flow away so any dirt or pollution lingers around the coast much longer
- Needs a very big piece of sea to be cost effective
- Cannot be used inland
- Barrage systems require salt resistant parts and lots of maintenance
- Affects the lives of the people who rely on fishing for a means of living
- Limited because the tide never speeds up or slows down, and occurs on 6 hour cycles. It is also dependent on the fetch distance. The fetch is the distance the tide rises and falls, so some beaches have a very small fetch, and others have a big fetch but hardly any have a large enough fetch to support tidal energy
- Tidal energy is currently more expensive to generate than conventional energy or that from many other renewable sources.
- Effects on marine life during construction phases.
- Operation and control must be provided remotely and maintenance is complicated due to sea-basing of the generation facilities.
- Sea-based moorings and towers to hold the generators must be placed on the sea bottom.
- The generating facilities and mooring infrastructure are potential navigational hazards.
- Is only available in a small number of regions - it requires a basin or gulf that has a mean tidal amplitude of 7 meters or more. Also need semi-diurnal tides where there are two high and low tides everyday.
- Even with the best barrage designs, fish mortality rate per pass through the barrage is about 15%. Solutions to this problem have either failed or are too impractical and too expensive.
- Dams used in the production of tidal power can raise tide levels.
- Damages like reduced flushing, winter icing and erosion can change the vegetation of the area and disrupt the balance.
- Expensive to construct
- Power is often generated when there is little demand for electricity
- Barrages may block outlets to open water. Although locks can be installed, this is often a slow and expensive process.
- Barrages affect fish migration and other wildlife- many fish like salmon swim up to the barrages and are killed by the spinning turbines. Fish ladders may be used to allow passage for the fish, but these are never 100% effective. Barrages may also destroy the habitat of the wildlife living near it
- Barrages may affect the tidal level - the change in tidal level may affect navigation, recreation, cause flooding of the shoreline and affect local marine life
- Causes a continual loss of mechanical energy in the Earth-Moon system (Due to pumping of water through the natural restrictions around coastlines and viscous dissipation at the seabed and in turbulence.
- Loss of energy has caused the rotation of the Earth to slow in the 4.5 billion years since formation losing 17% of its rotational energy.
- May take additional energy from the system, increasing the rate of slowing over the next millions of years.
Where is tidal power being used now?
France has the biggest tidal power plant on the face of the earth, unfortunately the only tidal plant in Europe.
Tidal power uses energy in ocean movement (waves) to generate electricity.
Tidal power, sometimes called tidal energy, is a form of hydropower that converts the energy of tides into electricity or other useful forms of power. Although not yet widely used, tidal power has potential for future electricity generation. Tides are more predictable than wind energy and solar power. Historically, tide mills have been used, both in Europe and on the Atlantic coast of North America.
What type of land feature makes the use of tidal power reasonable?
An inlet or bay with a narrow opening and a large tidal range is ideal for generating tidal power. A tidal range of at least 5 meters is typically needed to make tidal power extraction feasible.
Why is geothermal energy so important?
It is clean, free and green. In other words, it uses the heat from deep below the earth to generate electricity that has no carbon dioxide emissions, which are harmful to the earth and are causing global warming.
Geothermal energy, and green technologies like it, are important because they are low-risk, low-impact energy sources for us to use without polluting the environment. Geothermal Technology is better for the environment and your home. There are many advantages of Geothermal Technology. The underground loop carry warranties of 25 to 50 years! According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if just 100,000 homes converted to a geothermal heating and cooling system, carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by 880 million pounds.
What is the tidal range for the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick Canada?
The Bay of Fundy has the largest tides in the world with a difference of as much as 48 feet between low tide and high tide. The greater the difference, the more energy can be derived from the change.
Where is the tidal power in the Philippines?
The Philippines does not currently have any operating tidal power plants. However, there are potential sites for tidal energy projects in areas like the San Bernardino Strait and Surigao Strait, which have strong tidal currents suitable for generating electricity.
What are three different power stations and the names of those power stations across south Africa?
- Koeberg Nuclear Power Station: Located in Western Cape, it is the only nuclear power station in South Africa.
- Medupi Power Station: Located in Limpopo, it is a coal-fired power station that is still under construction.
- Gariep Dam: This hydroelectric power station is located in Free State and generates electricity using water from the Gariep Dam.
A tidal period is typically around 12 hours and 25 minutes, representing the time it takes for a full cycle of two high tides and two low tides to occur in a specific location.
Tidal energy is primarily being used by countries with suitable coastal conditions for tidal power generation, such as the United Kingdom, France, and Canada. Some companies are also investing in tidal energy projects to generate clean electricity for local communities.
How is tidal energy transformed into useful energy?
There is amazing power in the ocean tides moving in and out every 12 and a half hours. The energy in the moving water turns turbines to generate electricity.
There are two types:
- The barrage dam type, which works like a hydro-electric river dam, excepts it holds the water back at high tide and then generates power by releasing the water.
- The tidal stream system, which is simpler, cheaper and less harmful to the environment, consisting simply of turbines in the stream of moving water.
What is the cost of tidal power in Canada?
These projects are planned but costs must be only an estimate at present. British Columbia Tidal Energy Corp. plans to deploy at least three 1.2 MW turbines in the Campbell River or in the surrounding coastline of British Columbia by 2009.[21] Nova Scotia Power has selected OpenHydro's turbine for a tidal energy demonstration project in the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, Canada
Tidal power how the energy source is turned into usable energy?
Tidal power harnesses the energy from the movement of ocean tides to generate electricity. This is typically done using underwater turbines that spin as the tides flow in and out, converting the kinetic energy of the tides into mechanical energy which is then converted into electricity through a generator. This electricity can then be transmitted to the grid for use by consumers.
What are the benefits of hydroelectric power?
Hydroelectric power is a renewable energy source that produces electricity with minimal greenhouse gas emissions. It is reliable and can provide a consistent power supply. Additionally, hydroelectric power stations can be used to regulate water flow, preventing flooding and ensuring water availability for irrigation and drinking.
The Bay of Fundy is the site of a power plant that harnesses?
The Bay of Fundy is the site of a power plant that harnesses tidal energy. Tidal energy is generated by the movement of water resulting from the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun. The bay's extreme tidal range makes it a particularly ideal location for tidal energy production.
The outward rise and inward fall of the belly during breathing is due to the movement of the diaphragm muscle. When you inhale, the diaphragm contracts and moves downward, pushing the abdominal organs outward. When you exhale, the diaphragm relaxes and moves upward, allowing the abdominal organs to move inward.
Where is the largest tidal power station?
The first and largest tidal power station was the Rance tidal power plant built over a period of 6 years from 1960 to 1966 at La Rance, France. It has 240 MW installed capacity.
There are plans for a bigger power station in South Korea. Known as the Sihwa Tidal Power Plant, the project would generate 260 MW from the constant flow of water in and out of a seaside bay. The project is expected to be completed by 2009.
What are the pros and cons to water wheel energy?
There are really few disadvantages to wave energy, save the fact that the locations are very few and limited in terms of possible size of equipment. It is a true green energy with no carbon dioxide emissions.
A tidal barrage is a dam or a weir built across the inlet to a bay or river mouth. There are gates, or sluices, that open to let water in as the tide rises, and out after it falls. This moving water spins turbines to generate electricity.
What machines rely on tidal power to work?
Machines such as flour mills used to rely on the moving water of the river to work. Now most milling is powered by electricity, which can be obtained from a variety of sources, including renewable tidal energy.
Advantages and disadvantages of houses with all electric utilities?
Advantages:
- Lower installation costs compared to gas utilities.
- No need for gas supply lines and associated safety concerns.
Disadvantages:
- Higher operating costs in regions with expensive electricity.
- Susceptibility to power outages, which can disrupt essential services.
What causes the abundance of available food in the Bay of Fundy?
The Bay of Fundy has a high abundance of available food due to strong tidal currents bringing in nutrients and plankton from the deep ocean waters. These nutrients support a productive food chain, attracting a diverse array of marine species to the region. Additionally, the bay's sheltered environment provides a rich habitat for marine life to thrive.
What are some examples of tidal energy being used?
Tidal energy is being used in various ways, including generating electricity through tidal power plants, supporting marine research with autonomous tidal energy platforms, and powering small-scale devices like buoys and tidal stream turbines. Additionally, some countries have implemented tidal energy technologies to contribute to their renewable energy goals.
The only functioning tidal power station in North America is in?
The only functioning tidal power station in North America is in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is called the Annapolis Royal Generating Station and uses the Bay of Fundy's powerful tides to generate electricity.
What is one form of alternative energy what are the pros and cons of this form?
One proposed form of alternative energy is engine fuel made from corn. The main benefit of this form of alternative energy is that it is clean burning, and could be easily and cheaply made. The main disadvantage is the fact that virtually everyone would have to get a new car in order to implement the corn-based fuel right away.
What affects the heights of tides?
The heights of tides are primarily influenced by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun on Earth's oceans. Other factors, such as the shape of coastlines, water depth, and the Earth's rotation, also play a role in determining the height of tides at specific locations.
