Ocean Energy: Tidal Energy By: Tim Mrugala, Sammie Blanco & Jamie Siracusa

How does it work? A huge dam, is built across a river or bay. This barrage has gates in it which allow the water to flow in with the incoming tide. These gates are then closed when the tide begins to go back out The water which is now trapped inside the barrage is now called a hydrostatic head The greater the head the more power can be generated from the out flowing water.

How Tidal Energy Works Tidal Energy Video Tidal Energy Video

How Does Tidal Energy Impact the Environment? Advantages: There will always be power being generated. The water is not used up it stays in the water cycle Therefore it can be used over and over again without the need for replenishment. NO WASTE OR POLLUTION! Disadvantages: Fish can get sucked in by the turbines killing them It changes the coastline completely and the dams become flooded This causes many mud flats and habitats to be destroyed Therefore birds and animals homes are destroyed Needs a very big piece of sea to be cost effective · Not many sites suitable for this kind of power generation; building the barrage · Only produces power for about 10 hours of the day

More Advantages and Disadvantages Advantages: It is very cheap to maintain Very reliable People can predict when tides will be in or out (easy to keep track of) The barrage can help to reduce the damage of very high tidal surges or storms on the land Disadvantages: Needs a very big piece of sea to be cost effective There are not many sites suitable and available for this kind of power generation Only produces power for about 10 hours of the day

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Where In The World Does Ocean Energy Work Best? South Africa is a country with a huge coastline; there are many bays and lagoons which can be used to generate this kind of electrical power. They have many big cities that are located on the coast and would benefit greatly from this kind of power generation. South Africa only has one nuclear power station, and so they rely a lot on fossil fuels for their electrical power. Therefore, they would benefit significantly from a renewable energy source such as tidal power. Good in CT? No, because Connecticut doesn’t have a large coastline. Therefore, this type of renewable energy would not be as useful.

Tidal Energy vs. Fossil Fuels Tidal A renewable source Produces no waste Uses natural resources Does not affect global warming Cheap to maintain Fossil Fuels Non renewable resources Raise in environmental concerns Burning of fossil fuels produces about 21.3 billion tons of carbon dioxide per year These gasses contribute to global warming Takes millions of years to form Also uses natural resources such as: buried dead organisms

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