Ben Stonehouse
TIDAL ENERGY
Advantages
A Very Predictable Energy Source. Massive amounts of water move in extremely predictable patterns. This makes it very easy to harness the energy that these tides can generate, because we can predict their movements as far as years ahead.
An Inexhaustible Source of Energy.There is no shortage of tides . They are controlled by the gravitational pull between the earth, sun, and moon. This means that as long as the earth is being orbited by the moon, the tides will continue to be there producing energy.
Very Low Costs To Operate. Once the initial constructions costs are done, there are very few additional costs to keep the tidal energy plant up and running. Little maintenance is required and minimal personnel.
Effective Even At Low Speeds. The amount of movement needed to generate power is very low. It has been proven that tidal energy can still be harnessed even if the water is only moving at 3 feet per second.
last for a long time. Tidal energy plants are very simple, and made of durable and simple materials that can withstand the time very well.
Completely Green.There are no carbon emissions from tidal energy plants
Disadvantages
Effects on Marine Life. The biggest concern regarding tidal energy is the effect that the turbines and plants will have on the marine life in the surrounding areas. The mounting of the turbines could greatly interrupt the habitats of marine life and also prevent natural movements of species.
High Construction Costs. The costs of water construction and the expensive equipment necessary to build a tidal energy plant can add up very quickly. These costs are usually transferred onto the tax payers.
Changes In Tidal Movement. The exact locations and intensity of the tides can very drastically.
Difficult Sea Usage. The tidal plant could greatly impact the access of the sea. This could effect transportation of goods and other vessels that need to travel by the ocean.
Location Limits
There are very few ocean shores that are suitable for the construction of a tidal energy plant.
Case study- La Rance Tidal Barrage, France
The construction of this barrage began in 1960. The system used consists of a dam 330m long and a 22km2 basin with a tidal range of 8m, it incorporates a lock to allow passage for small craft.
It incorporates a lock to allow passage for small craft.
The work was completed in 1967 when 24, 5.4m diameter Bulb turbines, rated at 10MW were connected to the 225kV French Transmission network.
Provides electricity for 192,131 homes per yea
It supplies 0.12% of the power demand of France
Cost approximately €94.5 million. It took almost 20 years for the La Rance to pay for itself.
The costs have now been recovered, and electricity production costs are lower than that of nuclear power generation