What is Tidal Power?
Tidal power is a specific kind of hydropower that includes tidal generators creating electricity through the tides in the ocean.
There are different types of Tidal power:
Tidal Turbines
Tidal Barrages
Tidal Fences
*More information on the types of Tidal power are in the video down below in the next section
How is Electricity Generated by it?
Tidal energy generators are placed underwater in the areas where there are strong tides in the ocean. Any kinetic energy that is picked up by the generators from the tides is converted into electricity.
Video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkTRcTyDSyk
Some e.g. of Tidal Power Being Used Internationally:
There are many countries that use Tidal power like South Korea, Wales, France, China, India, Canada, Russia, & more.
France
France's tidal power plant is constructed across the estuary in the river La France, which is located in Brittany, France; the Northwestern region (and peninsula) of the country. Built in 1966, it was the first source of renewable energy of using tidal power in the world. The nuclear electric power generation company of France, known as Electricite de France (EDF), was the company to create this idea. Today, the power plant is still producing electricity for the people of France, creating around 500 GWh/year.
List of Pros and Cons for Tidal Power
Pros Cons
Opinion
For now, I think Tidal power is undesirable, and it's a new idea that can have a significant amount of potential if we have a solution for some of the reasons why Tidal power is a downer. In the future, I do hope there is a way to move the generators farther away from the shore and away from any animals that live by the shore or in the water near land. Secondly, the price is too costly, but I bet it would be lowered because this idea is brand new and it's understandable on why it is very expensive. This problem has happened all the time. For example, the Iphone X has just came out and it is brand new to everyone, so it will start off expensive. By five years, the cost will be decreased because it's not new anymore and people wouldn't take it as a significant phone anymore. If the cost and the location issues were solved, I think Tidal power would work great in the future! The pros that stuck out to me were how long-lasting they were, it's a renewable energy, and how it will be running 24/7. If the generators last for a vast amount of time, the money might be worth paying for, knowing how much would be saved with the amount of electricity that is being generated in all those years. Tidal power is also renewable because the tides are naturally created by the moon's gravitational pull, so as long as we have our moon pulling the ocean, our source of electricity will always be available and that is the first big step to succeeding with Tidal power. With the generators on all the time would save such a big amount of money for everyone, and it could run forever.
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