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Tidal energy is power produced by the surge of ocean waters during the rise and fall of tides. Tidal energy is a renewable source of energy. The rise and fall in the sea level due to the actions of the sun and moon results in the formation of tidal energy. It is generated from a natural source by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun on our Earth.
Read Also: Renewable Energy
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Key Terms: Tides, Tidal Energy Principle, Tidal Power, Tidal Energy, Tidal Stream
What is Tidal Energy?
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Tidal energy is a renewable source of energy that is generated from a natural source, that is, water. Therefore, it could be considered a significant part of the hydro energy generation process. The tides, so generated, due to the gravitational pull of the moon and sun over a period of time helps in the generation of tidal energy. The presence of the tidal currents contributes to moving the blades of the turbine and hence, generating electricity from the tides.
Tidal Energy
Sample Questions on Tidal EnergyQuestion: Differentiate between tidal energy and wave energy. Answer: Wave Energy:
Tidal Energy:
Question: Which of the following best describes the working of tidal barrage for outgoing tides? i) Generator → basin → ocean → outgoing tide ii) Generator → ocean → basin → outgoing tide iii) Ocean → generator → basin → outgoing tide iv) Outgoing tide → generator → basin → ocean Answer: The outgoing tides flow through the generator which converts the kinetic energy into electrical energy. The water is then emptied into the ocean via a separate basin. |
What are Tides?
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Tides are the unusual conditions that occur over the sea at least twice in a lunar year. The gravitational pull of the sun and the moon along with the magnetic fields of the Earth contribute to rising sea levels. This rise in the sea level at any particular period of time is termed a high tide, whereas, if the sea level falls, then it is considered as the low tides.
What are Tides?
When the gravitational field of both the moon and the Earth are in a straight line, their influence becomes very strong which leads to the flow of over gallons of water to the shore causing the low tide condition. When the moon perfectly aligns with the earth and the sun, the gravitational pull on Earth becomes stronger as a result of which high tides become higher while the low tide becomes lower during each tidal cycle. These tides are known as spring tides.
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Types of Tides
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There are high tides and low tides which are defined specifically as follows.
- Spring Tides: It usually occurs on full moon nights when the sun, moon, and the earth are aligned in a straight line, resulting in high tides due to the strong gravitational fields.
- Neap Tides: It usually occurs on quarter moon nights when the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon are extremely weak due to the counteracting effects of each other. This results in the generation of the weak tides marked by the negligible difference between the high and the low tides.
Spring Tides & Neap Tides
Principle Behind the Generation of the Tidal Energy
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- The main force behind the generation of the tides is the gravitational pull of the moon which remains under the influence of the rotation of the earth.
- As the gravitational force of the sun and moon become stronger, the water in the sea rises upwards forming a bulge-like structure.
- The rotation of the earth causes the rise and the fall in the sea level and the greater the difference between the high and the low tides, the greater shall be the tidal current.
- The tidal current so generated is transformed into usable electricity with the help of the tidal generator or through the turbine.
- This tidal energy is generated via tides which are the result of the force of the sun and moon and the action of the earth, so, this can be considered as a non-exhaustible and clean source of energy.
FAQs based on Tidal Energy PrincipleQuestion: Which type of turbine is commonly in use in tidal energy? Answer: The Kaplan turbine is a propeller-type reaction turbine. It is usually immersed completely in the fluid it derives energy. Question: How efficient is tidal energy? Answer: Tidal energy is 80% efficient when it comes to converting water energy into electricity. |
Methods For Generating Tidal Energy
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Tidal energy can be generated by the following methods.
- Tidal Stream Generator: The moving water, depending upon its velocity, is used by such kinds of generators to generate electricity. The places like bridges that can capture the high velocity of the running water are used for installing the generators.
- Dynamic Tidal Power: It works on the phenomenon which involves the usage of long dams built from coastal regions to that of the oceans.
- Tidal Barrage: This directly involves the use of the high and the low tides with the help of recurring potential energy. In this, the water is channeled out via the dams during the high tides and this potential energy which is stored, later, gets converted into electricity.
- Tidal Lagoon: This involves the development of the proper artificial infrastructure in terms of the circular retaining walls. These walls are installed with the turbines to store the potential energy.
Tidal Energy
Applications of Tidal Energy
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Just like any other source of energy, tidal energy also has wider applications. In the contemporary period, the rise in the demands of energy is being appropriately supplemented by tidal energy. Following are its few applications.
- Grain Mills
Tidal energy has been widely used for crushing grains in grain mills. This application has been present in this industry of raw material for a quite long period now.
- Electricity Generation
Another important use of tidal energy is seen in respect to electricity generation. A significant portion of the tidal energy reaches the DISCOMS as well.
- Energy Storage
Tidal Energy is used to store the energy in dams. Dams act as a large energy storage. Moreover, reservoirs and tidal barrages can be modified to make them capable of storing energy.
- Alternative to Fossil Fuels
Tidal energy is a clean source of energy, thus, contributing to net-zero emissions and works as a good alternative to fossil fuels.
- Protection to Coast During High Storms
Construction of the tidal barrage makes the best use of tides and also prevents the coasts from the adverse impacts of the tides.
Tidal Energy Generation
Tidal Energy: Advantages and Disadvantages
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Tidal Energy Advantages and Disadvantages are elaborated in the table below:
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Green Energy Source: It is a green and clean source of energy that shall contribute to controlling global warming and its adverse effects. | Danger to Aquatic Life: The use of the implements and machines like turbines or generators ultimately leave a negative impact over the aquatic biodiversity, thus endangering the entire marine food chain. |
| Predictable and Reliable: Tidal energy is a predictable and the most reliable source of energy that occurs often along the coast. | Water quality is compromised: The tidal generators may undergo depreciation within the water due to the oxidation or corrosion. Hence, affecting the quality of the water and harming marine life. |
| Effective at even low speeds: Even if the velocity of the tides is low, the density of water always remains optimal for extracting electricity. | High cost of production: The cost of production of the tidal energy is very high and is unaffordable for the long run because of the huge demand and less productivity. |
| Renewable source of energy: This is a renewable source of energy that will never get exhaustive even after abundant use. | Limited Power Generation: The tidal energy involves the limited power generation because the tides occur only twice a day, thus, it might lead to disequilibrium in demand and supply. |
Read Further: Quantum Physics
Things to Remember
- Tidal energy is a renewable source of energy that is generated from a natural source, that is, water.
- Tides are the unusual conditions that occur over the sea at least twice in a lunar year.
- This tidal energy can be considered as a non-exhaustible and clean source of energy.
- The rotation of the earth causes the rise and the fall in the sea level.
- The world’s first tidal power station was the Rance Tidal power plant which was opened by the Électricité de France. This power station is located on the Rance River in Brittany.
- Tidal energy is a clean source of energy, thus, contributing to net-zero emissions and works as a good alternative to fossil fuels.
- The Indian coasts of Gulf of Cambay, Gulf of Kutch and the Gangetic Delta at Sundarban region, West Bengal have the tidal energy potential of approx. 8000 MW to 12000 MW.
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Sample Questions
Ques: Define Tide. Mention a few applications of tidal energy. (3 marks)
Ans: Tides are the unusual conditions that occur over the sea at least twice in a lunar year. The gravitational pull of the sun and the moon along with the magnetic fields of the earth contribute to rising sea levels. This rise in the sea level at any particular period of time is termed a high tide, whereas, if the sea level falls, then it is considered the low tide.
Following are the few applications of tidal energy.
- Tidal energy has been widely used for crushing the grains in the grain mills. This application has been present in this industry of raw material for a quite long period now.
- Another important use of tidal energy is seen with respect to electricity generation.
Ques: What is Tidal Energy? (2 marks)
Ans: Tidal energy is a renewable source of energy that is generated from the natural source, that is, water. Therefore, it could be considered a significant part of hydro energy. The tides generated due to the gravitational pull of the moon and sun over a period of time help in the generation of tidal energy. The presence of the tidal currents contributes to the movement of the turbine and hence, generates electricity from the tides.
Ques: Define two types of tides. (2 marks)
Ans: There are the high tides and the low tides which are defined specifically as follows.
- Spring Tides – It usually occurs on full moon nights when the sun, moon, and the earth are aligned in a straight line, resulting in high tides due to the strong gravitational fields.
- Neap Tides – It usually occurs on quarter moon nights when the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon are extremely weak due to the counteracting effects of each other. This results in the generation of the weak tides marked by the negligible difference between the high and the low tides.
Ques: Explain the methods for generating tidal energy. (4 marks)
Ans: Tidal energy can be generated by the following methods.
- Tidal Stream Generator – The moving water, when generating the kinetic energy depending upon its velocity, is used by such kinds of generators to generate electricity.
- Dynamic Tidal Power – It works on the phenomenon which involves the usage of long dams built from coastal regions to that of the oceans.
- Tidal Barrage – This directly involves the use of the high and the low tides with the help of the recurring potential energy.
- Tidal Lagoon – This involves the development of the proper artificial infrastructure in terms of the circular retaining walls.
Ques: Explain Tidal Energy. Mention its advantages. (5 marks)
Ans: Tidal energy is a renewable source of energy that is generated from the natural source, that is, water. Therefore, it could be considered as a significant part of hydro energy. The tides generated due to the gravitational pull of the moon and sun over a period of time help in the generation of tidal energy. The presence of the tidal currents contributes in deriving the turbine and hence, generating the electricity from the tides.
Some of its advantages are as follows.
- It is a green and clean source of energy that shall contribute to controlling global warming and its adverse effects.
- Tidal energy is a predictable and the most reliable source of energy that occurs often along the coast.
- Even if the velocity of the tides is low, the density of water always remains optimal for extracting electricity.
- This is a renewable source of energy that will never get exhaustive even after its abundant use.
Ques: Mention India's stance over tidal energy. (2 marks)
Ans: Currently, India has the following stances over tidal energy.
- The Indian coasts of Gulf of Cambay, Gulf of Kutch and the Gangetic Delta at Sundarban region, West Bengal have a tidal energy potential of approx. 8000 MW to 12000 MW.
- Although, in the future, India is estimated to have a potential of about 54 gigawatts (GW) of ocean energy including about 12.4 GW of tidal power.
Ques: Analyze the possible drawbacks of tidal energy. (4 marks)
Ans: The following could be the possible drawbacks of tidal energy:
- The use of the implements and machines like turbines or generators ultimately leave a negative impact over the aquatic biodiversity, thus endangering the entire marine food chain.
- The tidal generators may undergo depreciation within the water due to the oxidation or corrosion. Hence, affecting the quality of the water and harming marine life.
- The cost of production of the tidal energy is very high and is unaffordable for the long run because of the huge demand and less productivity.
- The tidal energy involves the limited power generation because the tides occur only twice a day, thus, it might lead to disequilibrium in demand and supply.
Ques: Illustrate the applications of tidal energy. (4 marks)
Ans: Just like any other source of energy, tidal energy also has wider applications. In the contemporary period, the rise in the demands of the energy is being appropriately supplemented by the tidal energy. Following are its few applications.
- Tidal energy has been widely used for crushing the grains in the grain mills.
- Another important use of the tidal energy is seen in respect to the electricity generation.
- Tidal energy is a clean source of energy, thus contributing to net zero emissions and works as a good alternative to fossil fuels.
- Construction of the tidal barrage makes the best use of tides and also prevents the coasts from the adverse impacts of the tides.
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