The trend of utilizing maximum renewable energy sources for all humans’ power and energy needs has been up for decades. Renewable energy sources like hydro power, wind energy, solar energy, tidal power, etc., are considered to be some of the resources able to satisfy our energy needs.

Tidal energy is a renewable energy source that generates ample energy through ocean waves. This energy can then be used for electricity generation.

Let us understand tidal energy in the other section of this article.

What Is Tidal Energy?

Tidal energy is a renewable energy source and power generated by the natural rise and fall of tides created by the gravitational interaction between the Earth, the sun, and the moon. This interaction results in a gravitational pull that pulls water toward and away from the planet.

When water flows through a narrow area causes water to move at a higher rate. This creates tidal currents that are powerful enough to be harvested for their energy. Tidal energy can be transformed into valuable kinds of power, including electrical power, by using generators that have been carefully designed and installed in the appropriate areas.

Waves, persistent ocean currents, and variations in temperature and salinity occurring in seawater are potential energy sources from the ocean. Tidal energy can be captured most effectively in areas with significant differences in the tidal range.

Essentially, this is the difference between high and low tide. The tidal currents become stronger in areas where the tidal channels and the waterways become smaller.

Other favourable conditions include a combination of these factors. Alternative locations include places with large tidal range differences, which create differences in the high and low tides.

Tidal Energy Advantages

As water is denser than air, tidal energy is more forceful than wind energy. As a result, with the same turbine diameter and rotor speed used in windmills, tidal energy can produce exponentially more power than wind energy,

In addition to this, tidal power is more reliable and consistent than alternative forms of energy. Wind or solar can be unpredictable at times. Because of this, tidal energy is an exciting option to investigate as a kind of renewable energy.

There are two challenges that need to be overcome:

1. We need to find applications for tidal energy in which prices are less sensitive than the national grid electricity.
2. We must make it commercially practical to gather and transform energy into usable power at scale.

Researchers must look into ways to contribute to developing technologies and methods that increase the viability of tidal energy for widespread commercial application to fully harness it as a significant and ongoing source of clean energy. Only then will it be possible to use it to its full potential. The industry is still in its infancy, and numerous obstacles must be conquered before it can expand and thrive sustainably.

Benefits of Tidal Energy

Tidal energy is a resource that is sustainable, renewable, and clean; nevertheless, it is currently underutilized. This presents a tremendous opportunity to fulfil the ever-increasing energy demands of the world, both now and in the future. Because water weighs so much more per unit volume than air, tidal energy is significantly more potent than wind power. Its relative density makes it more efficient than wind or solar energy, and the fact that it creates no greenhouse gases or other waste makes it an appealing renewable energy source to pursue.

Compared to other renewable energy sources, including wind and solar energy, which are affected by the unpredictability and variability of atmospheric forcing, the relative predictability and reliability of continuous tides are another benefit. This is especially true when compared to other renewable energy sources.

Low and high tide cycles are simple to forecast and very infrequently undergo unanticipated alterations. Scientists need to identify new technologies and methods that significantly reduce installation and maintenance costs, reduce the environmental effects, and increase the number of locations suitable for tidal energy use to identify the benefits of tidal energy on a commercial scale.

There are a few tidal projects now running. However, the industry is expanding slowly due to entrance hurdles and a need for more supply chains.

Conclusion

With this much information, it is evident that tidal energy sources are way more beneficial to us but have not been that explored until now. Many governments across the world are trying to utilize tidal energy for their electricity generation, and soon will be one of the top energy generation sources.

This will make the tidal energy market grow at an exceptional growth rate earning significant revenue for the global market and will turn out to be a game changer in the energy sector.