Types of Tidal Energy Systems

There are many types of tidal energy methods that can be utilized to produce the electricity from the natural rise and fall of ocean tides and currents. These include:

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Tidal Stream Systems (Tidal Turbines): These systems use the kinetic energy of moving water to generate electricity. Underwater turbines, similar in concept to underwater wind turbines, are placed on the seabed in areas with strong tidal currents. When the water gets to flow over the turbines, then it causes them to rotate that produces the electricity. Tidal stream systems can be further categorized into horizontal-axis turbines and vertical-axis turbines.

Tidal Range Systems (Tidal Barrages and Tidal Lagoons): Tidal range energy harnesses the difference in water levels between high tide and low tide. There are two main types of tidal range systems:

Tidal Barrages: A tidal barrage is a dam-like structure built across the entrance of an estuary or tidal basin. Sluice gates and turbines are installed in the barrage. As the tide rises, water enters the estuary and is trapped by the barrage. When the tide recedes, the potential energy stored in the trapped water is released by allowing it to flow through the turbines, generating electricity.

Tidal Lagoons: Tidal lagoons are similar to tidal barrages but are constructed in a circular or semi-circular shape, usually offshore. They capture and store water during high tide and then release it through turbines during low tide to generate electricity.

Dynamic Tidal Power (DTP): DTP is a relatively new concept that aims to harness the energy difference between two adjacent bodies of water at different tidal phases, such as a river and the open sea. It can be used as combination of sluice gates and turbines to generate the constant flow of water that generates electricity as the water level equalizes in between the two bodies of water.

Tidal Kites and Tidal Currents: Tidal kites are buoyant devices tethered to the seabed by cables. They move in response to the changing tidal currents and generate electricity through the motion of their tethers.

Oscillating Water Columns (OWCs): OWCs use the rising and falling of water levels in a chamber to generate air movement, which is then used to turn a turbine and produce electricity. As waves enter the chamber, the air is compressed and released, creating a cyclical motion that drives the turbine.

Examples of Tidal Energy Projects

There are many remarkable examples of tidal energy projects around the world, as following them:

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La Rance Tidal Power Station, France: This is one of the oldest and largest tidal power plants in the world, with a capacity of 240 MW. It was built in 1966 and generates enough electricity to power over 200,000 homes.

MeyGen Tidal Energy Project, Scotland: This project, located in the Inner Sound of the Pentland Firth off the north coast of Caithness, is currently the largest tidal energy project in the world, with a capacity of 86 MW. It uses tidal turbines to generate electricity from the fast-moving currents.

Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon, UK: This is a proposed tidal power project that, upon completion, will become the world’s largest tidal power project, with a capacity of 240 MW. It will use a tidal barrage to generate electricity from the rise and fall of tides.

Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station, South Korea: This is the world’s largest tidal power plant, with a capacity of 254 MW. It uses a tidal barrage to generate electricity from the tidal currents.

Woodbridge Tide Mill, England: This is one of the oldest tidal energy projects in the world, dating back to the 12th century. It uses a tidal mill to grind grain and generate electricity.

Nova Scotia Tidal Energy Project, Canada: The Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia, Canada, is known for having some of the highest tidal ranges in the world. Several tidal energy projects have been developed in this region, including the Cape Sharp Tidal project and the Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy (FORCE). This project is main objective to harness the strong tidal currents in the Bay of Fundy.

East River Tidal Energy Project, New York, USA: Located in New York City’s East River, this project features underwater turbines designed to harness the tidal currents between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island. It’s an example of urban tidal energy development in a densely populated area.

How Does Tidal Energy Work?

The primary mechanisms for generating tidal energy are tidal stream systems and tidal range systems. Here’s how each of these systems works:

How is Tidal Energy Produced?

Here, we will cover the all essential things about how the tidal energy produce does; below shown all steps one by one, you can check them:

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Tidal Stream Systems (Tidal Turbines)

Underwater Turbines: Tidal stream systems use underwater turbines, which are similar in concept to underwater wind turbines. These turbines are mostly embedded on the seabed in areas along with strong tidal currents like as narrow straits or channels. Tidal currents are getting the horizontal movement of water, due to the rise and fall of tides.

Capture of Kinetic Energy: As the tidal currents flow over the submerged turbines, they cause the blades of the turbines to rotate. This rotation is driven by the kinetic energy of the moving water, much like the way wind turns wind turbine blades.

Electricity Generation: The rotational energy of the turbine blades is converted into electrical energy through a generator connected to the turbines. This electricity is then transmitted through cables to shore for distribution into the electrical grid or for local use.

Variability: Tidal stream systems produce electricity when the tidal currents flow, typically four times a day as tides change. The energy generation is highly predictable and can be forecasted years in advance.

Tidal Range Systems (Tidal Barrages and Tidal Lagoons)

Tidal Barrages: Tidal range systems, specifically tidal barrages, involve the construction of a dam-like structure across the entrance of an estuary or tidal basin. This structure typically has sluice gates, turbines, and other control mechanisms.

Tidal Cycle: During high tide, water flows into the estuary and is trapped by closing the sluice gates. The potential energy is stored in the trapped water as the tide rises. When the tide recedes and the water level outside the barrage drops, the potential energy is released as water flows through the turbines.

Electricity Generation: As the trapped water flows through the turbines, it drives generators, producing electricity. The controlled flow of water via the turbines produces the consistent and predictable source of energy.

Tidal Lagoons: Tidal lagoons operate on a similar principle but are typically circular or semi-circular structures built offshore. They capture and release water during the tidal cycle, generating electricity as water flows through turbines.

Uses of Tidal Energy in Daily Life

Tidal energy is a renewable source of energy that are going to use in several ways. Here are some common applications of tidal energy that is using in several domains, including:

Tidal Energy Applications Are:

Tidal Electricity: The most important use of tidal energy is the productions of electricity that is called tidal electricity. The electric power generated from the tides is reliable as tides are predictable and uniform in nature.

Grain Mills: Tidal energy has been in use for hundreds of years. Grain mills were the first application of tidal energy. Incoming tidewater was retained in storage ponds, and the outgoing tide was used to power waterwheels that turned the millstones.

Energy Storage: Tidal energy can also be used for energy storage.

Water Desalination: Tidal energy is also used to power desalination plants that helps to convert the seawater into freshwater.

Aquaculture: Tidal energy is also going to use for power aquaculture farms that produce fish, shellfish, and other seafood.

Heating and Cooling: Tidal energy can be used to heat and cool buildings via the using of heat pumps.

Transportation: Tidal energy can be used to power boats and ships.

Oceanographic Research: Tidal energy can be used to power research vessels and equipment used in oceanographic research.

Recreation: Tidal energy can be used for recreational activities, including surfing, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

Military Missions: Tidal energy can be used to power military missions, such as underwater surveillance and communication systems.

Issues and Challenges of Tidal Energy

High Production Costs: Tidal energy is still in its early stages of development, and the technology is expensive. The price of producing electricity from tidal energy is higher as compared to other renewable energy sources like as wind and solar.

Limited Number of Suitable Locations: Tidal energy plants require specific locations with strong tidal currents, which limit the number of suitable locations for tidal energy plants.

Environmental Effects: Tidal energy plants can have negative impacts on marine ecosystems, including changes in water flow and sedimentation.

Site Availability Constraints: Tidal energy plants require specific sites, which can be limited by factors such as shipping lanes, fishing grounds, and marine protected areas.

Unpredictable Weather: Tidal energy production can be affected by unpredictable weather conditions, such as storms and hurricanes.

Corrosion and Bio-Fouling: Tidal energy equipment is exposed to harsh marine environments, which can cause corrosion and bio-fouling.

Characteristics of Tidal Energy

Here are some of the characteristics of tidal energy as following them:

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• Tidal energy is the energy obtained from the rise and fall of tides.

• Tides are created by the gravitational effect of the moon and the sun on the earth causing cyclical movement of the swell.

• Tidal energy is a variant of hydropower that helps to convert the energy obtained from tides into helpful forms of power, like as electricity.

• Tidal energy is a renewable source of energy that is entirely predictable.

• Tidal energy can be generated from the Earth’s oceanic tides.

• Tidal energy can be harnessed and converted into a usable form of energy through tidal barrages or dams, tidal fences, and tidal turbines.

• Tidal energy is effective at low speeds and can generate electric power at very low speeds.

• Tidal energy is affordable to maintain and reliable.

• Tidal energy has limited suitable locations and requires specific sites with strong tidal currents.

Tidal Power Plant in India

The development of tidal energy in India has been hampered by higher costs and getting to environmental risks. Here are some of the key points related to tidal power plants in India:

India started building two tidal power projects in Gujarat and West Bengal in 2007 and 2011, respectively, with an installed capacity of 3.75 and 50 megawatts, but both of these projects were put on hold because of their astronomical prices.

The 50 MW tidal power facility in Gujarat’s Gulf of Kutch was reported to have cost Rs. 7.5 billion (Rs. 750 crores) per megawatt of power.

The Gujarat government has been secured the contract in 2011 to develop a 250 MW tidal power project in the Gulf of Kutch with GPCL, Atlantis Resource Corporation (UK), and PMES, Singapore.

A demonstration project to construct a 3.75 MW tidal power plant at Durgaduani Creek in the Sunderbans, West Bengal, was sanctioned by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) in 2008, but it was never carried out.

According to Indian government estimates, the country has a tidal energy potential of 8,000 MW, including about 7,000 MW in Gujarat’s Gulf of Cambay, 1,200 MW in Gujarat’s Gulf of Kutch, and 100 MW in West Bengal’s Sunderbans region’s Gangetic delta.

Tidal energy is still in the research and development phase in India and has not been implemented on a commercial scale.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is tidal energy used for?

Tidal energy is primarily used for generating electricity. Tidal generators, such as turbines, work like wind turbines, except it is ocean currents, not wind, that turns them. The spinning turbine is connected to another device that produces electricity, which then travels through wires to a city where people need it.

Who created tidal energy?

The idea of creating power from tides was first conceived by an engineer named Dexter Cooper in 1920.

Is tidal energy a reliable source of electricity?

Yes! Tidal energy is highly reliable because tides are predictable and follow a regular pattern influenced by the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun. This predictability makes tidal energy a consistent and dependable source of power.

What is the difference between tidal energy and wave energy?

Tidal energy is generated by the vertical movement of water due to the gravitational forces of the moon and sun, while wave energy is generated by the horizontal movement of water caused by wind patterns. Both are forms of marine renewable energy, but they capture different aspects of ocean motion.

Which type of energy of water is used by tidal energy?

Tidal energy uses the movement of ocean tides and currents, which is a form of kinetic energy. Tidal energy is produced by using the rise and fall of tides that is a form of potential or kinetic energy that can be converted into other kinds of energy, including electricity.

Summing Up

Making ensure that you have been fully educated about what is tidal energy and their types, examples, uses, and applications; as well as how does tidal energy work with diagram with ease. If this article is useful for you, then please share it along with your friends, family members or relatives over social media platforms like as Facebook, Instagram, Linked In, Twitter, and more.

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