What is tidal energy?
Tides are caused by
the gravitational pull of the Moon, and to a lesser extent the Sun, on
the oceans around the world. The difference between high tide and low
tide can be many metres, and the energy of the tidal movement can be used
to generate electricity.
How is tidal
energy collected?
If, at high tide,
water can be trapped behind a barrage and then let out as the tide ebbs,
this water can be passed through a turbine that can generate electricity.
Where
can tidal energy be used?
Barrages are built
in river estuaries that have large tidal ranges, such as the River Severn
in the UK.
Advantages
The rise
and fall of the tide is constant, and does not depend on the weather.
The production of electricity in this way is relatively cheap.
Disadvantages
Present designs do not produce a lot of electricity, and barrages
across river estuaries can change the flow of water and, consequently,
the habitat for birds and other wildlife.
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