Tidal Power

Tidal Energy

La Rance tidal power plant in La Rance, France

 Introduction
• Alternative Energy Sources/Renewable Energy
• Overview of Tidal Generation
-Tides
-Basic methods of generating electricity from
tides
-Geography
-Pros/Cons
-Environmental concerns
• Different types of tidal generators
-Tidal fence
-Tidal lagoons
-Tidal turbines
• Conclusions
• References
 Alternative Energy Sources
• Use of any given energy source in human society encounters
limits to expansion. At the beginning of the 21st century some
issues have achieved global dimension. Principal fossil energy
sources, such as oil and natural gas are approaching
exhaustion that may occur within the span of a generation
• Closely linked to energy development are concerns about the
environmental effects of fossil fuel energy use, such as global
warming, and health issues due to air pollution. Energy
development issues are part of the much debated sustainable
development problem.
• Canada and the United States have incredibly high energy
consumption per capita
• Need to move away from fossil fuels

• Need safe and clean energy sources that

don’t create significant amounts of waste.

• Renewable Energy Sources offer this.

 Renewable Energy
• Renewable energy sources capture their energy
from existing flows of energy, from on-going natural
processes, such as sunshine, wind, flowing water
(hydropower), biological processes, and geothermal
heat flows. Renewable energy is from an energy
resource that is replaced rapidly by a natural
process such as power generated from the sun or
from the wind.
• Examples of Renewable Energy Sources:
Wind Solar Hydroelectric

And....
 Tidal Power
• Tidal power generators derive their energy from
movement of the tides.
• Obviously requires large bodies of water nearby. Not
viable on the prairies for example.
• Has potential for generation of very large amounts of
electricity, or can be used in smaller scale.
• Tidal power is not a new concept and has been used
since at least the 11th Century in Britain and France for
the milling of grains.
• There are a number of places around the world that
have adopted pilot projects for different types of tidal
generators
 • Tidal power utilizes the twice-daily variation
Tides in sea level caused primarily by the
gravitational effect of the Moon and, to a
lesser extent the Sun on the world's
oceans. The Earth's rotation is also a factor
in the production of tides.
• The interaction of the Moon and the Earth
results in the oceans bulging out towards
the Moon (Lunar Tide). The sun’s
gravitational field pulls as well (Solar Tide)
• As the Sun and Moon are not in fixed
positions in the celestial sphere, but
change position with respect to each other,
their influence on the tidal range
(difference between low and high tide) is
also effected.
• If the Moon and the Sun are in the same
plane as the Earth, the tidal range is the
superposition of the range due to the lunar
and solar tides. This results in the
maximum tidal range (spring tides). If they
are at right angles to each other, lower tidal
differences are experienced resulting in
neap tides.
How do tides changing = Electricity?
 Tidal Barrage
• Utilize potential energy
• Tidal barrages are typically dams built
across an estuary or bay.
• consist of turbines, sluice gates,
embankments, and ship locks.

Basin
 How do tides changing = Electricity?
• As usual, the electricity is provided by spinning turbines.

• Two types of tidal energy can be extracted: kinetic energy

of currents between ebbing and surging tides and potential
energy from the difference in height (or head) between high
and low tides.

• The potential energy contained in a volume of water is

E = xMg
where x is the height of the tide, M is the mass of water and
g is the acceleration due to gravity.

• Therefore, a tidal energy generator must be placed in a

location with very high-amplitude tides. Suitable locations
are found in the former USSR, USA, Canada, Australia,
Korea, the UK and other countries
• The generation of electricity from tides is very similar to
hydroelectric generation, except that water is able to flow
in both directions and this must be taken into account in
the development of the generators.

• The simplest generating system for tidal plants, known

as an ebb generating system, involves a dam, known as
a barrage across an estuary.

• Sluice gates on the barrage allow the tidal basin to fill on

the incoming high tides and to exit through the turbine
system on the outgoing tide (known as the ebb tide).

• Alternatively, flood-generating systems, which generate

power from the incoming tide are possible, but are less
favored than ebb generating systems.
 Ebb Generation
• The basin is filled through the
sluices and freewheeling turbines
until high tide. Then the sluice
gates and turbine gates are closed.

• They are kept closed until the sea

level falls to create sufficient head Estuary
across the barrage and the turbines
generate until the head is again
low. Then the sluices are opened,
turbines disconnected and the
basin is filled again.

• The cycle repeats itself.

• Ebb generation (also known as

outflow generation) takes its name
because generation occurs as the
tide ebbs.
Ebb generating system with a bulb turbine
 Some Turbine Types

Bulb Type Rim Type

•In systems with a bulb turbine, water flows

around the turbine, making access for
maintenance difficult, as the water must be
prevented from flowing past the turbine.
•Rim turbines reduce these problems as the
generator is mounted in the barrage, at right
angles to the turbine blades. Unfortunately, it is
difficult to regulate the performance of these
Tubular Type turbines and it is unsuitable for use in pumping.
•Tubular turbines have been proposed for use
some UK projects. In this configuration, the blades
are connected to a long shaft and orientated at an
angle so that the generator is sitting on top of the
barrage.
Environmental/Ecological Concerns
• Tidal power generation can
offer significant advantages,
including improved
transportation due to the
development of traffic or rail
bridges across estuaries and
reduced greenhouse gas
emissions by utilizing tidal
power in place of fossil fuels.
La Rance, France (240MW)
• However there are also some
significant environmental
disadvantages which make
tidal power, particularly
barrage systems less
attractive than other forms of
renewable energy.
 Tidal Changes
• The construction of a tidal barrage in an estuary will change the tidal
level in the basin. This change is difficult to predict, and can result in
a lowering or raising of the tidal level. This change will also have a
marked effect on the sedimentation and purity of the water within
the basin. In addition, navigation and recreation can be affected as
a result of a sea depth change due to increased sedimentation
within the basin. A raising of the tidal level could result in the
flooding of the shoreline, which could have an effect on the local
marine food chain.

Ecological Changes
• Potentially the largest disadvantage of tidal power is the effect a
tidal station has on the plants and animals which live within the
estuary. As very few tidal barrages have been built, very little is
understood about the full impact of tidal power systems on the local
environment. What has been concluded is that the effect due to a
tidal barrage is highly dependent upon the local geography and
marine ecosystem.
• Wales have been caught in tidal generators.
• Fish may move through sluices safely, but when these are closed,
fish will seek out turbines and attempt to swim through them. Also,
some fish will be unable to escape the water speed near a turbine
and will be sucked through.
Different Generator Types
• Tidal Fences

• Tidal Lagoons

• Tidal Turbines
 Tidal Fences
• Tidal fences are composed of
individual, vertical axis turbines
which are mounted within the fence
structure, known as a caisson.

• Kind of like giant turn styles which

completely block a channel, forcing
all of the water through them.

• Unlike barrage tidal power stations,

tidal fences can also be used in
unconfined basins, such as in the
channel between the mainland and
a nearby off shore island, or
between two islands.
 Tidal Fences (cont.)
• Since they do not require
flooding of the basin, tidal
fences have much less impact
on the environment, and are
significantly cheaper to install.
• Unlike barrage generators,
tidal fences have the
advantage of being able to
generate electricity once the
initial modules are installed.
• Since a caisson structure is
still required, which can disrupt
the movement of large marine
animals and shipping, there
are still ecological concerns
 Tidal Fences (cont.)
• “A 2.2GW tidal fence
using the Davis turbine,
was being planned for the
San Bernadino Strait in
the Philippines to be
constructed by the Blue
Energy company. The
project, estimated to cost
$US 2.8 Billion is
unfortunately on hold due
to political instability”
according to Michael
Maser a Blue Energy Davis Hydro Turbine
spokesman.”

http://www.bluenergy.com/
 Tidal Lagoons
• Tidal lagoons are an adaptation of the
barrage system. Similar to standard
barrage models, tidal lagoons retain a
head pond and generate power via
conventional hydro-turbines.

• The difference is that the conventional

barrage designs exploit the natural
coast line to minimize barrage length.
However, this entails blocking the
estuary regardless of how deep it is.
This raise the costs considerably.

• However, a lagoon, for a low cost can

pretty much be built anywhere that
there is a high tidal range.

• The lagoon has relatively little visual

impact, as it is below the high water
tide mark and appears like a normal
sea wall at low tide.
Tidal Lagoons (cont.)
• The lagoon can be built using loose aggregates found in quarries or
demolished structures. This rubble would be ‘dumped’ until an
impound wall was complete. As any aggregate can be used, it is
possible to restrict construction costs by implementing the cheapest
materials available
• This construction technique also has the added benefit of creating an
artificial reef. As well, a calm water lake would be created in the
middle where smaller fish and birds could flourish
• Migrating fish can swim around unimpeded and without the danger of
sluices or negotiating turbines.
• Tidal Electric is planning to test the concept in Swansea Bay with a
relatively small 30MW output plant.
• Design being implemented in China in the future.
• “The Chinese government has expressed its enthusiastic support of
Tidal Electric’s ambitious 300 MW offshore tidal lagoon in the waters
near the mouth of the Yalu River by signing an agreement pledging to
cooperate with the development. At 300 MW, the project would be
the largest tidal power project in the world, topping the capacity of the
240 MW French tidal power plant in LaRance. “
 Tidal Turbines
• Proposed shortly after the oil crisis of
the 1970s, tidal turbines have only
become reality in the last decade,
when a 10-15kW 'proof of concept'
turbine was operated on Loch Linnhe.
Resembling a wind turbine, tidal
turbines offer significant advantages
over barrage and fence tidal systems,
including reduced environmental
effects.

• Tidal turbines utilize tidal currents that

are moving with velocities of between
2 and 3 m/s (4 to 6 knots) to generate
between 4 and 13 kW/m2. Fast
moving current (>3 m/s) can cause
undue stress on the blades in a
similar way that very strong gale force
winds can damage traditional wind
turbine generators, whilst lower
velocities are uneconomic.
 Tidal Turbines (cont.)
• Tidal turbines offer significant
advantages over barrage and fence
tidal systems (and other renewable
energy sources):
• High energy intensity: A 1MW tidal
turbine can access five to ten times as
much energy per square meter of rotor
than a 1MW wind turbine, resulting in a
smaller and potentially lower cost
machine.
• Minimal environmental impact: tidal
turbines are visible enough to be
avoided by mariners but they have a
low visual impact on the seascape, they
produce no pollution or noise and their
slow moving rotors which turn at less
than one revolution in four seconds (15
rpm) are considered unlikely to harm
marine life.
• High energy return on energy
invested: tidal turbines should offer
faster energy payback than most other
renewables.
 Tidal Turbines (cont.)
• ‘SeaFlow,’ a 300 kW prototype turbine was the world’s first offshore
tidal turbine and was installed off Lynmouth, Devon in May 2003.

Cost £3.4 million and was funded by a

consortium of private companies and
the UK and German governments.
Future Expansion of Tidal Turbines
• Tidal Farms. Sets of up to
hundreds of tidal turbines
working in conjunction.
• Potential for giga-watts of power
• Marine Current Turbine (MCT)
created SeaFlow (300kW), is
following up with SeaGen
(1MW), which will expand to a 5
turbine tidal farm that will
provide 5MW.
• The Norwegian company,
Hammerfest Strom, believes that
they will have their first tidal farm
of over 20 second generation
devices operational before the
end of 2008. This would be the
3rd phase of their 'Blue Concept'
project and would result in a tidal
farm that would produce 10MW
of renewable electricity.
 Conclusions
• Tidal power is a renewable, potentially zero emission (during
operation) energy source.

• Tides have the advantage of being completely predictable, unlike

solar and wind power.

• Different types of Tidal Generators suit different areas and energy

needs.

• There are environmental concerns that need to be addressed when

developing this technology further.
 References
• RISE – Research Institute for Sustainable Energy
http://rise.org.au/reslab/resfiles/tidal/text.html
• Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_power
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy
• http://www.hie.co.uk/aie/tidal_power.html
• Marrine Current Turbines Ltd.
http://www.ifremer.fr/dtmsi/colloques/seatech04/mp/proceedings_pdf/
presentations/4.%20courants_marins/MCT.pdf

http://web.uvic.ca/~loneil/elec395/elec395.htm
QUESTIONS?