● A form of hydropower that converts energy from tides into electricity
● Renewable energy (cannot be depleted like fossil fuels)
● They are Large underwater turbines are placed in
● areas with high tidal movements, and are designed to capture the kinetic motion of the surging of ocean tides in order to produce electricity.
The Earth is covered mainly by water. The ocean have currents and tides that circulate round the world. This vast amount of moving water produces immense amounts of energy.
How does it work?
Tidal forces have an origin in the gravitational interaction between the moon and the sun, meaning as long as they are there, we can continue to use it.

3 generating methods:
● make use of the kinetic energy
(energy that which it is possesses due to it’s motion) of moving water to power turbines.
● Make use of water going in and out the bay naturallydue to tidal force
● Tidal power generation along the coast
Cost and Benefits
Tidal Power issues:
Ecological
● can cause effects on marine life, turbines can accidently kill marine creatures with the rotating blades.
● Some fish may therefore no longer utilize the area due to threatened by the constant rotating and noise pollution of the turbines.
● Mechanical fluids such as lubricants may leak out, which may harmful to marine life.
● construction of tidal power can disrupt fish migration in the oceans.
Corrosion
● Salt water causes corrosion in metal parts of the turbine -> difficult to manage and maintain tidal stream generators due to their sizes and depth under water.
Economical
● Tidal power are connected with high upfront costs needed for construction, therefore lack cost-competitiveness on global energy market.
Supply
● can only produce electricity during tidal surges which is in average around 10 hours each day. - NOT enough of power to supply for everyone
Benefits:
● renewable energy - meaning it cannot be depleted like fossil fuels.
● can use tidal power as long as the gravitational interaction between Moon and Sun continue to exist.
● very efficient as it is 80% more efficient than other popular renewable energy (solar and wind)

● Great potential for future power and electricity generation because of the massive size of the ocean.
● Tides are more predictable, due to rise and fall of tides are much more cyclic than random weather patterns.
● does not emit greenhouse gas emissions.
● can reduce import of foreign fuels and improve security
● Barrages and small dams used to harness tidal power could protect coastal areas or ship ports from dangerous tides during a stormy weather.
Case Study:
La Rance power station in France:
● The construction of this barrage began in 1960. The system used consists of a dam 330m long and a 22km 2 basin with a tidal range of 8m, it incorporates a lock to allow passage for small craft.
● During construction, two temporary dams were built on either side of the barrage to ensure that it would be dry, this was for safety and convenienc
● e. The work was completed in 1967 when 24, 5.4m diameter Bulb turbines, rated at
10MW were connected to the 225kV French Transmission network.
● 20% of kinetic energy is lost