2006-07-20 08:29:23 · 8 answers · asked by Karlo C 2 in Environment
There are also tidal power plants in the UK and France.
Some of the problems with tidal power:
- corrosive environment, hard on generating equipment
- substantially alters the ecosystem
- changes water flow channels, leads to siltation
- tidal is not "firm" power - you only get power when the tide is ebbing or flowing
A couple of notes:
to dt - I'd like to know where the tidal power plant in Prince Edward Island, Canada is.
to ymingy - there is an enormous amount of energy in tides. Its hard to compare tidal energy to wave energy on a global basis, but the near shore potential of tidal energy far exceeds wave energy
2006-07-20 09:15:27 · answer #1 · answered by minefinder 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tides don't have that much energy in them. Waves on the other hand do. And we _are_ trying to harness that energy, it's just that each wave carries with it the energy of a small, salty, explosion. It's difficult to create a material that can withstand the corrosion, and take such huge impact forces for prolonged periods of time.
2006-07-20 15:34:24 · answer #2 · answered by ymingy@sbcglobal.net 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tides are ever changing and whatever is used to capture or harness the power of tides will break down much faster than with wind or waterfalls etc. also causes some concerns on an environmental level and ecological level as well.
2006-07-20 15:32:53 · answer #3 · answered by YOU WILL BOW TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a powerplant on Prince Edward Island in Canada that generates electricity from the tides.
2006-07-20 15:33:24 · answer #4 · answered by dt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are. Bay Mills, Michigan has been doing this for decades. Let's take a lesson from them. When the rest of the northeast of the U.S. and also Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, was left in a blackout, Bay Mills went on with normal life and had electricy. They never draw on energy from coal burning plants so their consciences don't bother them and they don't have to worry about losing power because they are self suffecient.
2006-07-21 02:57:36 · answer #5 · answered by Brenda J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Maine, we are currently facing this problem, the pros and cons, since we have astronomical tides in the Bay of Fundy. The major con, in a nutshell, is the alteration of the tidal eco system
2006-07-20 15:35:38 · answer #6 · answered by wellaem 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tidal power has been used for centuries, there is even a Constable painting of the Woodbridge tide mill.
2006-07-20 17:00:44 · answer #7 · answered by fred 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is one here in Nova Scotia as well. The tides are harnessed for power.
2006-07-20 15:34:44 · answer #8 · answered by PLDFK 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋