Tidal Power: How It Works | GreenTheFuture.com

Tidal power systems use the ocean tide currents to produce electricity. The energy from, and level of the tides are generated from the gravitational force of the Sun and Moon relative to Earth. The stronger the tide, in terms of water height or current velocity, the greater the potential for tidal energy. As a result, this is an inexhaustible and predictable form of clean, renewable energy. There are two primary types of tidal power: Tidal Stream Generators and Barrages.

Tidal Stream Generators take advantage of the kinetic energy of the moving water to power the turbines, similar to that of wind turbines. As a result the design of most of these TSGs are similar to wind turbine designs, including Horizontal Axis and Vertical Axis turbines. Some devices have been modified to better channel the tidal power by incorporating a shroud (Venturi system). The final, and more unique device type is the hydrofoil/sail systems, which use the movement of the current to move the device in a manner that power hydraulics to power a turbine.

Horizontal Axis Vertical Axis Hydrofoil & Sail

Barrages and Tidal Lagoons use the energy potential of the differences in water height between high tide and low tide. These devices enable a water supply to be dammed off at high tide and opened at low tide, when the water can be released and sent back to the water supply through hydroelectric turbines.

Barrage Tidal Lagoon