Tidal energy

[Zarostulus]

I feel like this huge source of electricity is completely neglected in the UK. We have a lot of bays, and we should be utilising some of them to capture tidal energy. It's pretty simple, install turbines with filters that spin as the tide comes in and out, and use these to generate electricity.

The main downside I can think of is to the local ecosystem, but I still think we should press ahead and install at least a few of these underwater turbines. It's a limitless supply of energy if done right?

[St Rhenium]

[quote author=Zarostulus link=topic=182.msg427#msg427 date=1448895762]
I feel like this huge source of electricity is completely neglected in the UK. We have a lot of bays, and we should be utilising some of them to capture tidal energy. It's pretty simple, install turbines with filters that spin as the tide comes in and out, and use these to generate electricity.

The main downside I can think of is to the local ecosystem, but I still think we should press ahead and install at least a few of these underwater turbines. It's a limitless supply of energy if done right?
[/quote]
It's very expensive to install, very expensive to maintain and the ecosystem arguments are very large. There are just better alternatives in my opinion, and tidal energy would be at the bottom of my list. The cost associated with getting these things repaired can be astronomical.

[Jemappelle]

A moderate tidal barge could generate 1GW. the more ambitious could generate 8GW, but they would be far more ecologically damaging.

[JamesH]

Scotland has gigawatts of potential, and it certainly is neglected. At least things are changing, and I think Scotland will be a world leader in this regard.

[Shayar Choksi]

Hi, instead of using tidal energy, it will be better to use vertical turbine. Vertical turbine can generate electricity 24 hours without any interruption, not hurt environment, no carbon emission. We can get electricity at cheapest price 0.0003 GBP per Kwh . Capex per Mw is less than 1 million. Very small land required. for 100Mw power plant we require only 100meter x 100meter land. PLF is 80% O&M is 10%

[Ronald Bolivar Chua]

[quote author=Jemappelle link=topic=182.msg586#msg586 date=1449257117]
A moderate tidal barge could generate 1GW. the more ambitious could generate 8GW, but they would be far more ecologically damaging.
[/quote]
I concur. A tidal barge would be least damaging to the ecosystem and less likely to leave an imprint. I was thinking myself that a tidal barge system with air pumps as the buoys could generate a significant gain. The air is pumped into compression chambers which store the pressure until great enough to spin the turbine at high velocity. Just a thought though.

[WavePower]

The trick with tidal  is to use low speed turbines . do that and you avoid fish kill.

low speed turbines are achievable by using larger diameter submerged rotors , get the maths right like Open Hydro or Alstom and ecomomies of scale can make it competitive with fossil fuels.

Hydroelectric is still best economy but i think we are too slow modernising pumped hydro .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6BFxwNq5qs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc4j95mbHDo