Tidal Power - Introduction

• Twice each day, thanks to a gravitational pull on

earth from our rotating moon, theworld's
oceans produce powerful water currents and
rising and falling tides.
• Tide, periodic rise and fall of all ocean waters,
including those of open sea, gulfs, and bays,
resulting from the gravitational attraction of the
Moon and the Sun upon the water and upon the
Earth.
 Basic science confers huge advantages on tidal energy
• The basic science of earth’s tidal forces confer enormous advantages on
this potential resource, namely:
• - The earth’s tides are a source of renewable power that is free, reliable
(FIRM),and predictable years in advance (for ease of integrating with
existing energy grid).
- By virtue of the basic physical characteristics that accrue to seawater,
namely, its density (832 times that of air) and its non-compressibility,
this medium holds unique, ‘ultra-high-density’, potential (in
comparison with other renewables, and wind, especially) for
generating renewable energy.
- This potential is greatly amplified
when volume and flow rates present in many coastal locations worldwide
are
factored in. For example, a passage of seawater flowing with a velocity of 8
knots*
has a wind-speed equivalent force of approx 390 km/hour or 230
miles/hour (*1 knot
= 1 nautical mile/hour or 1.15 statute miles/hour or 1.8 km/hour).
Rotational period of the moon and earth
• The rotational period of the moon is around 4
weeks, while one rotation of the earth takes 24
hours; this results in a tidal cycle of around 12.5
hours. This tidal behaviour is easily predictable and
this means that if harnessed, tidal energy could
generate power for defined periods of time.
• These periods of generation could be used to offset
generation from other forms such as fossil or
nuclear which have environmental consequences.
Although this means that supply will never match
demand, offsetting harmful forms of generation is
an important starting point for renewable energy.
 Lunar tides
• The Moon, being much nearer to the Earth than the Sun, is the
principal cause of tides.
• When the Moon is directly over a given point on the surface of
the Earth, it exerts a powerful pull on the water, which therefore
rises above its normal level.
• Water covering the part of the Earth farthest from the Moon is
also subject to this pull due earths centrifugal pull, so that
another distinct dome of water is formed on the farther side of
the Earth providing the basis for a second wave.
• The lunar wave crest directly beneath the Moon is called direct
tide, and the crest on the side of the Earth diametrically opposite
is called opposite tide.
• At both crests, the condition known as high water prevails, while
along the circumference of the Earth perpendicular to the direct-
opposite tidal axis, phases of low water
 Lunar tides cont’d
• Low and high waters alternate in a continuous cycle.
• The variations that naturally occur in the level between
successive high water and low water are referred to as the
range of the tide.
• At most shores throughout the world, two high waters and
two low waters occur every lunar day, the average length of a
lunar day being 24 hr, 50 min, and 28 sec.
• One of these high waters is caused by the direct-tide crest
and the other by the opposite-tide crest. Two successive high
waters or low waters are generally of about the same height.
• At various places outside the Atlantic Ocean, however, these
heights vary considerably; this phenomenon, which is known
as diurnal inequality, is not completely understood.
 Solar tides

• The Sun likewise gives rise to two oppositely situated

wave crests, but because the Sun is far from the Earth,
its tide-raising force is only about 46 per cent that of
the Moon.
• The sum of the forces exerted by the Moon and Sun
result in a wave consisting of two crests, the positions
of which depend on the relative positions of the Sun
and Moon at the time.
• During the periods of new and full moon, when the
Sun, Moon, and Earth are directly in line, the solar
and lunar waves coincide. This results in the condition
known as spring tides, in which the high water is
 Solar tides continues
• When the Moon is in its first or third quarter, however, it is at right
angles to the Sun relative to the Earth, and the height of the waves is
subject to the opposing forces of the Sun and Moon. This condition
produces neap tides, in which the high water is lower, and the low
water higher, than normal.
• Spring and neap tides occur about 60 hr after the corresponding phases
of the Moon, the intervening period of time being known as the age of
the tide or age of the phase inequality.
• The interval of time between the crossing of a meridian by the Moon at
one point and the next high water at that point is called the lunitidal
interval, or the high-water interval for that point.
• The low-water interval is the period between the time the Moon
crosses the meridian and the next low water. Average values for the
high-water lunitidal intervals during periods of new and full moon are
known as the establishment of a port. Values for the intervals during
other periods of the month are often referred to as the corrected
establishments
 Tidal currents

• Accompanying the vertical rise and fall of water are various

horizontal or lateral movements commonly known as tidal
currents or tidal streams, which are very different from the
common ocean currents.
• In confined areas, a tidal current flows for about 6 hr, 12
min in an upstream or shoreward direction, corresponding
to high water; it then reverses and flows for approximately
the same time in the opposite direction, corresponding to
low water.
• During the period of reversal, the water is characterized by
a state of rest, or calm, known as slack water. A current
flowing towards the shore or upstream is called flood
current; that flowing in a direction away from land or
downstream is known as ebb currents
 Other oceon currents phenomenon
• At various times on the open sea gigantic waves, called
tsunamis or tidal waves, strike the surrounding shore with
tremendous force and cause considerable damage to life
and property. These waves are not caused by natural tidal
phenomena, but by earthquakes, midocean volcanic
eruptions, and serious atmospheric disturbances.
• Another related phenomenon is the seiche, which usually
occurs in landlocked seas or lakes, such as San Francisco Bay
in California and Lake Geneva in Switzerland. The water
surface is observed to oscillate between a few centimetres
and several metres mainly because of local variations in
atmospheric pressure aided by high winds, but sometimes
as a result of a distant seismic shock. The movement of
water occurs in long waves and may last from a few minutes
 Tidal energy
• The energy of tides has been harnessed to produce electricity. In
the summer of 1966, a tidal power plant with a capacity of
240,000 kW went into operation on the estuary of the River Rance
in north-western France.
• The incoming tide of the river flows through a dam, driving
turbines, and then is trapped behind the dam. When the tide
ebbs, the trapped water is released and flows back through the
dam, again driving the turbines. Such tidal power plants are most
efficient if the difference between high and low tides is great, as in
the Rance estuary, where the difference is 8.5 m (28 ft).
• The highest high tides in the world occur in the Bay of Fundy in
Canada, where the difference between high and low tide is about
18 m (about 60 ft). The erection of a tidal power plant across
Passamaquoddy Bay, an arm of the Bay of Fundy, has long been
contemplated; however, the project has not yet been begun.
 Methods of harvesting tidal power
• State of the art / Current Status
 There are two options for getting energy from the
tide, a tidal barrage or utilising tidal streams.
 THE TIDAL BARRAGE
•  This is where a dam or barrage is built across
an estuary or bay that experiences an adequate
tidal range. This tidal range has to be in excess
of 5 metres for the barrage to be feasible . The
purpose of this dam or barrage is to let water
flow through it into the basin as the tide comes
in. The barrage has gates in it that allow the
water to pass through. The gates are closed
when the tide has stopped coming in, trapping
the water within the basin or estuary and
creating a hydrostatic head.
 How power is generated through
• The gates are closed when the tide has stopped
coming in, trapping the water within the basin or
estuary and creating a hydrostatic head.
• As the tide recedes out with the barrage, gates in
the barrage that contain turbines are opened, the
hydrostatic head causes the water to come through
these gates, driving the turbines and generating
power.
• Power can be generated in both directions through
the barrage but this can affect efficiency and the
economics of the project.
• This technology is similar to Hydropower
 Different types of tidal turbines
• There are different types of turbines that are available for
use in a tidal barrage.
• A bulb turbine is one in which water flows around the
turbine. If maintenance is required then the water must be
stopped which causes a problem and is time consuming with
possible loss of generation.
• When rim turbines are used, the generator is mounted at
right angles to the to the turbine blades, making access
easier. But this type of turbine is not suitable for pumping
and it is difficult to regulate its performance.
• Tubular turbines have the blades connected to a long shaft
and are orientated at an angle so that the generator is sitting
on top of the barrage.
 Pumping water

•  The turbines in the barrage can be used to pump

extra water into the basin at periods of low
demand. This usually coincides with cheap
electricity prices, generally at night when demand is
low. The company therefore buys the electricity to
pump the extra water in, and then generates power
at times of high demand when prices are high so as
to make a profit. This has been used in Hydro
Power, and in that context is known as pumped
storage.
 The power available from the turbine at any particular instant is given
by:
• P=ρ.g.Cd.A√2g(ZI-Z2)3
• Where,
• Cd = Discharge Coefficient
• A = Cross sectional area (m2)
• g = gravity = 9.81
• r = density (kg/m3)
• The discharge coefficient accounts for the restrictive effect
of the flow passage within the barrage on the passing
water.
• The equation above illustrates how important the
difference between the water levels of the sea and the
basin, (Z1-Z2), is when calculating the power produced.
 Economics

• The capital required to start construction of a barrage has been

the main stumbling block to its deployment.
• It is not an attractive proposition to an investor due to long
payback periods.
• This problem could be solved by government funding or large
organisations getting involved with tidal power. In terms of long
term costs, once the construction of the barrage is complete,
• There are very small maintenance and running costs and the
turbines only need replacing once around every 30 years. The
life of the plant is indefinite and for its entire life it will receive
free fuel from the tide.
• The economics of a tidal barrage are very complicated. The
optimum design would be the one that produced the most
power but also had the smallest barrage possible.
 Social Implications
• The building of a tidal barrage can have many social consequences on the
surrounding area.
• During the construction of the barrage, the amount of traffic and people
in the area will increase dramatically and will last for a number of years.
The La Rance tidal barrage in France took over 5 years to build.
• This will also bring revenue to the area from the tourism and hospitality
industry that will accommodate all the different types of visitors that the
barrage will bring. This will give a boost to the local economy.
• The barrage can be used as a road or rail link, providing a time saving
method of crossing the bay or estuary. There is also the possibility of
incorporating wind turbines into the barrage to generate extra power.
The barrage would affect shipping and navigation and provision would
have to be made to allow ships to pass through.
• The bay would become available for recreation; the waters would be
calmer not immediately after the barrage but further in towards the land.
This would be another tourist attraction and become a feature of the
 Environmental Aspects

• Perhaps the largest disadvantages of tidal barrages are the environmental and
ecological affects on the local area.

• This is very difficult to predict, each site is different and there are not many
projects that are available for comparison.
• The change in water level and possible flooding would affect the vegetation
around the coast, having an impact on the aquatic and shoreline ecosystems.
• The quality of the water in the basin or estuary would also be affected, the
sediment levels would change, affecting the turbidity of the water and therefore
affecting the animals that live in it and depend upon it such as fish and birds.
• Fish would undoubtedly be affected unless provision was made for them to pass
through the barrage without being killed by turbines. All these changes would
affect the types of birds that are in the area, as they will migrate to other areas
with more favourable conditions for them.
• These effects are not all bad, and may allow different species of plant and
creature to flourish in an area where they are not normally found. But these
issues are very delicate, and need to be independently assessed for the area in
question.
 Tidal streams
• Tidal streams are fast flowing volumes of water caused
by the motion of the tide. These usually occur in shallow
sea where a natural constriction exists which forces the
water to speed up.
• The technology involved is very similar to wind energy,
but there are some differences. Water is 800 times
denser than air and has a much slower flowrate; this
means that the turbine experiences much larger forces
and moments. This results in turbines with much smaller
diameters. The turbines must either be able to generate
power on both ebbs of the tide or be able to withstand
the structural strain. This technology is still in its infancy
despite the potential for a reliable and predictable source
 the advantage of tidal streams over tidal barrages
• Tidal stream technology has the advantage over
tidal barrages when you compare environmental
and ecological issues.
• This technology is less intrusive than on and
offshore wind, and tidal barrages, any hazard to
navigation or shipping would be no more than that
experienced by current offshore installations.
• Tidal Stream systems often have to be installed in
difficult coastal waters and the installation and
maintenance methods are often complicated, but
these hold they key for ensuring the success of the
technology.
 Power captured from tidal streams
• Energy can be captured from tidal streams using two methods,
Tidal fences and Tidal turbines.
Tidal Fences
• These are effectively another form of tidal barrage. They therefore
share some of the same environmental and social concerns, but
also have the advantage of being able to have the electrical
generators and transformers above the water. The following
diagram shows an example of a tidal fence.
Tidal Turbines
• This form of generation has many advantages over its other tidal
energy rivals. The turbines are submerged in the water and are
therefore out of sight. They don’t pose a problem for navigation
and shipping and require the use of much less material in
construction. They are also less harmful to the environment.
Impression of Tidal Turbine Farm
 Social Implications
• Tidal Streams are common in remote areas.
This means that careful consideration of the
wishes of the local community is required to
ensure the scheme can work to its potential.
Being under water avoids aesthetic problems
and shipping and navigation should not be
affected provided it is taken into consideration
when planning. The scheme can provide
employment during construction and
operation, which will add to the local
economic prosperity
 Tidal Power Facts

• Like clockwork, the tide rolls in and out moving massive amounts of
water from here to there and back again.
• With hydropower, energy is produced by passing moving water
through turbines which spin and create electricity.
• Tidal energy is a type of energy that produces electricity and other
forms of power through the use of water.
• Tidal energy is one of the oldest forms of energy. Tide mills, in use
on the Spanish, French and British coasts, date back to 787 A.D.
• The technology required to convert tidal energy into electricity is
very similar to the technology used in traditional hydro-electric
power plants - dam, gates and turbines.
• Turbines, similar to wind turbines, can be anchored to the sea bed
to generate electricity from tidal currents.
• Tidal power can provide secondary benefits such as bridges and
roads, which are built over the tidal generators.
 Environmental Aspects
• The environmental effects of utilizing tidal
streams are in no way as severe as those
for a tidal barrage. They will obviously
affect the seabed where they are
positioned and this might have an effect
on the aquatic life in the area. This is again
site specific and hard to predict; as long as
proper environmental impact assessments
are done then this can be avoided or
minimised.
 Conclusions
• Tidal energy has potential to become a viable
option for large scale, base load generation in
Tanzania. Tidal Streams are the most attractive
method, having reduced environmental and
ecological impacts and being cheaper and quicker
installed. Many rivers entering the ocean which are
not used for electricity could become one important
source of electric power