| Tidal Power, often referred to as tidal | | | | because ocean tides especially are caused by |
| energy, is achieved through the capture of | | | | the orbit of our solar system. Ocean |
| the energy created as water moves in ocean | | | | currents, as part of this process, happen |
| currents and tides. Two types of tidal power | | | | because of the way winds are affected on the |
| can be harnessed for energy-efficient power. | | | | earths surface. This tidal power supply is, |
| The first is called kinetic energy. This is | | | | thus, deemed inexhaustible. The primary |
| tidal power directly created as the water is | | | | energy source here is the kinetic energy |
| moving in rivers and in oceans as tides. The | | | | produced by the orbit of the system of earth |
| tidal power that requires one more step, | | | | and moon, and earth and sun. Tidal power has |
| called potential energy, comes from the | | | | an excellent potential as a future source of |
| difference between low and hide tide height. | | | | the generation of electricity because the |
| This height is commonly referred to as head. | | | | energy generated by these galactic rotations |
| The kinetic tidal power process uses turbines | | | | will continue unabated forever - or so |
| to produce the renewable energy. To | | | | scientists believe. Tidal power is not |
| understand this process think of windmills | | | | something new, however. European tidal mills |
| and visualize them underwater - this is the | | | | have been a part of grain grinding operations |
| means for kinetic tidal power. It is becoming | | | | for almost one thousand years. How efficient |
| increasingly more popular because its impact | | | | tidal ocean dam power is depends on the |
| on our ecology is so much less dramatic than | | | | height of the tidal swells rise and fall. |
| the building of dams, or what some refer to | | | | This is commonly referred to as amplitude. |
| as tidal fences or barrages. The United | | | | This amplitude can be as high as 33 feet 10 |
| States and other countries across the globe | | | | meters. This occurs where the tidal waves are |
| are studying their coastal areas with an eye | | | | funneled into fjords or rivers and water |
| for the suitability of the region for the | | | | velocity is extreme. The speed of the water |
| production of kinetic tidal power. The ideal | | | | might be as fast as 16 knots. One example of |
| of these have high speeds of the water that | | | | this is Vancouver Island in Canada. Even |
| occurs in the local channels as they enter | | | | greater amplitude is experiences in the Bay |
| the river or bay. Water currents in rivers | | | | of Fundy, where the amplitude might reach 56 |
| that run between islands are especially good | | | | feet 17 meters. This is because the tides |
| for tidal power as the currents there are | | | | resonance amplifies the ocean waves. Thus, we |
| highly concentrated and often quite powerful. | | | | see that the selection of the right location |
| Tidal power, with solar and wind energy, are | | | | for a tidal power generator is crucial to its |
| one of the most popular and well-touted of | | | | success as an efficient source of green |
| the sources of renewable energy. This is | | | | energy. |