Tidal power is the energy that captures the movement produced in the water by the wind and by the forces of the Sun and the Moon, typically called tides. The energy is obtained through a turbine. The electricity generated by the movement of the turbine is then transferred to the electrical network. The construction of dams nearby the coast or river mouths is the way to store the energy when the tide is high. Then, when the tide is low the water stored in the dam is released to the sea through a turbine generating electricity.
Tidal island in France. Mont Sant-Michel. Picture from afloresm (Flickr)
The main advantage of the tidal power is the big amount of energy that can be obtained. This energy is not being used nowadays, the development of tidal energy takes places in a few countries in the world and in very special spots. The impact on the location where the power plant is placed is the main disadvantage of tidal power. Only locations where tides are high enough can justify its construction due to the efficiency of the technology. Atlantic Ocean coast is by its nature a suitable site for this type of energy. However important institutions are working and making research on that area in order to improve the efficiency and make possible to install tidal power plants in many other locations.
Tidal energy is highly competitive in terms of price of the electricity generated and could help to decrease the fossil fuels dependency and reduce the energetic bill of many countries by only choosing the location where the tides are higher and creating a power plant according to the tides dimensions.
The biggest tidal power plant in the world is located in South Korea, it is called Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Plant and opened in 2.011, with an output power of 254MW overcoming the 240MW of the European biggest tidal power plant of Rance River (France).
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