Alternate, renewal energy: Tidal Energy?

[Lex]

I had no idea that the natural rise and fall of the ocean tides could be harnessed for production of alternate, renewable energy.

Looks like the U.K. is leading the pack on developing this into an actual viable source of energy.

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http://www.windenergy.co.uk/framestidal.htm

Tidal stream energy is the Cinderella of UK renewables. Overlooked for 20 years while wind was being developed, and during the 80's when wavepower was the secondary focus of attention, tidal stream is potentially more attractive than either. The resource is predictable, it is not prone to violent storm extremes which have to be designed against at a cost for wave and wind, and installations can be unobtrusive, with little visual impact.

The Pentland Firth, through which most of the North Sea is filled and drained twice a day, could be a huge energy resource, estimated from the DTI's own 1993 figures to be capable of providing 10% of the UK's entire electricity demand. Now a new DTI-commissioned report estimates that the cost of tidal stream need be no more than for offshore wind or wavepower.


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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/2992996.stm


Martin Wright, of Marine Current Turbines Ltd, said: "We estimate that there is at least 10 gigawatts of power available from tidal power in the UK.

"That's the same as about half of the existing nuclear industry."

A marine current turbine looks like a smaller version of a modern windmill and the principle is exactly the same.

But whereas a windmill draws energy from the movement of air, the marine turbine uses currents in the water.



Its backers believe the concept can become a rival to wind power because ocean currents are more reliable than wind and also because they are less obtrusive; the structure is built on the seabed and projects just a few metres above the surface.

There is no danger to fish because the blades rotate quite slowly - about 20 revolutions per minute.

Several experimental devices working on similar principles have been built before, but the turbine unveiled in Devon is the first such permanent installation in the world to generate electricity.

If it performs as expected, the consortium behind it hopes to build a whole set of turbines in the area - a tidal farm.

The project is financed by the Department of Trade and Industry and the European Commission's energy programme.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/2992996.stm

[lildreamer316]

1. I had no idea! How cool!

Thanks so much!!

[Lex]

2. I thought it was pretty interesting too.

Considering the stability of the rise and fall of the tides, and the fact that the earth is mostly ocean anyway, it seems like a good idea if it can be developed properly.

I know it can't replace oil, but a combination of alternate, renewable sources can at least HELP in the long run.

[Booster]

3. Couple this with the guy who recently altered his car so that he

gets 250 miles per gallon, add in the slow moving windmills, and solar power and we really could lick the energy problem, but do you really think the oil guys are going to allow this to happen in the US? Nah.

[Cats Against Frist]

9. Why do the oil guys have to "allow" this to happen?

Anyone can buy a windmill or solar panels, or run their car on biodiesel. You don't need a stamp of approval from either the oilmen or the government. In some areas, those who own windmills can route their power to either a city or rural electrical grid, and get paid for their overage. If more people knew that they could do this, and saved up to do it, instead of buying new toys and bigger gas-guzzling cars, anyone with enough land to put up some solar panels and windmills could cut down their energy use, drastically.

That's what I don't get -- why would a person wait around for the oil companies to "approve" or for the government to kick their ass into gear? If people just DID it, the squeeze could be put on the oil guys. Hell, you can run a small apartment, with just a solar panel, outside your window.

Right now, I'm saving up to buy an array to use to defray energy costs, in my new house -- particularly if gas keeps rising -- and thinking about purchasing a diesel car, so I can run biodiesel. Oil guys can't stop me.

[Mist]

10. Individuals and small businesses can certainly go ahead and

use alternate energy. To apply it nationwide would require public works committment and that would involve the pols, and we know they get their marching orders on energy from gas/oil multinationals. But individuals should pursue alternate energy with all possible speed; prices of oil and gas will only get worse.

[Mythsaje]

4. There's some talk of building

tidal generators in the Tacoma Narrows... about damn time, as far as I'm concerned.

[silverweb]

5. This is coming into its own.

There's an experimental tidal turbine that will be built in San Francisco Bay, but it the experiment had to be initiated by a UK company. Apparently, no one in the U.S. could be bothered without being hounded for quite some time.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3339905

It's a combination of technologies and lifestyle modifications, including tidal energy, that will save us -- if it's not already too late. These things should be built up and down every coastline and within every tidal inlet.

[stepnw1f]

7. Could You Imagine The Power We'd Have

There is a lot of coastline in this country.

[stepnw1f]

6. Excellent Idea...

I saw a program on the Science Channel about this.

[Lex]

12. Oh--maybe I can catch it if they re-run it. nt

[fishnfla]

8. neat

there are some wicked strong tides up in the Pacific NW.

I'm gonna have to check this out. bookmarked

[longship]

11. We can easily implement this

as part of the dike system protecting our large cities when the Anarctic and Greenland icecaps melt. The tidal forces will be ever more great then due to the larger volume of water.
:sarcasm:

[kittykitty]

13. What about The Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia?

I don't know why this power hasn't bee harnessed.

The force created by these mighty waters is equal to 8000 locomotives or 25 million horses at the Minas Channel. This energy works within the Bay’s waters to stir up nutrients from the ocean floor, the mud flats and salt water marshes providing an abundance of food for the birds, whales, fish and bottom dwellers that visit or call Fundy home.

Fundy's retreating tide exposes 4 to 5 km (2.5 to 3 mi) of the ocean floor at the head of the Bay.