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