Tidal Power Facts
Like clockwork, the tide rolls in and out moving massive amounts of water from here to there and back again.
With hydropower, energy is produced by passing moving water through turbines which spin and create electricity.
Tidal energy is a type of energy that produces electricity and other forms of power through the use of water.
Tidal energy is one of the oldest forms of energy. Tide mills, in use on the Spanish, French and British coasts, date back to 787 A.D.
The technology required to convert tidal energy into electricity is very similar to the technology used in traditional hydro-electric power plants - dam, gates and turbines.
Turbines, similar to wind turbines, can be anchored to the sea bed to generate electricity from tidal currents.
Tidal power can provide secondary benefits such as bridges and roads, which are built over the tidal generators.
Tidal Power Facts
Understanding Tidal Power
It's important to understand what tidal power is and what it is not, the historical context of tidal power around the world, and where we will get our tidal power in the future. You will find the most current energy facts on this website.
Tidal Power 101
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.
Tidal power is the only form of energy which derives directly from the relative motions of the Earth–Moon system, and to a lesser extent from the Earth–Sun system. The tidal forces produced by the Moon and Sun, in combination with Earth's rotation, are responsible for the generation of the tides.
Because the Earth's tides are caused by the tidal forces due to gravitational interaction with the Moon and Sun, and the Earth's rotation, tidal power is practically inexhaustible and classified as a renewable energy source.
Tidal Power 201
If fossil fuel resources decline during the 21st century, as predicted by Hubbert peak theory, tidal power is one of the alternative sources of energy that will need to be developed to satisfy the human demand for energy.
How efficient tidal ocean dam power is depends on the height of the tidal swells rise and fall. This is commonly referred to as amplitude. This amplitude can be as high as 33 feet 10 meters. This occurs where the tidal waves are funnelled into fjords or rivers and water velocity is extreme. The speed of the water might be as fast as 16 knots. One example of this is Vancouver Island in Canada. Even greater amplitude is experiences in the Bay of Fundy, where the amplitude might reach 56 feet 17 meters. This is because the tides resonance amplifies the ocean waves.