Tidal Energy

Alternative energy has been the talk of the town ever since news about global warming has been a regular feature on our evening news. Aside from solar and wind energy, there are other alternative energies that are being explored.

One alternative source of energy I find interesting and promising is tidal energy. Tides and waves are not the same. Waves are the energy that causes disturbance in the flow on the surface of the water. The tides are the current underwater. Tides highly rely on the gravitational pull of the sun and moon and that is the reason why we have high and low tides.

Harnessing energy from the tide is very different also from the wave. When we harness energy from the waves, buoys are used. But with tides, turbines are put underwater. And as tides goes through the turbine, it causes the blades to rotate and thus converting tidal energy into electricity.

If you’ve noticed, tides are more predictable than any other alternative renewable energy. Our calendars have tidal records in it for one whole year…that is how predictable the tides are and that is the reason why tidal power can give a more consistent cycle of electricity.

Currently, there are at least 13 tidal power stations all over the world. How does this work? Well, most of the alternative renewable energies that we have rely on the sun. Solar energy of course relies on the heat and radiation that the sun gives to the Earth. The wind turbines or windmills also rely on the sun’s heat that causes the wind to blow. Only the tidal power relies on the moon. As mentioned earlier, turbines are put underwater. And as the tides flow through the turbines and causes the blade to rotate and thus causing the generator to produce electricity.

As solar energy is feasible to be used in individual houses, tidal power sources are only meant for industrial usage. Companies who are able to purchase and install these tidal power turbines can sell the harnessed electricity to electrical companies. And in turn, these electrical companies can use that to provide electricity to the people. This will help lessen the need to use fossil fuels to provide for electricity.

You might wonder what then is stopping our government from purchasing all these wonderful machines to be able to use these free and renewable resources? Well, reality must never be confused with our ideals. Idealistically speaking, we would grab all this green energy technology today and put it to work. But truth be said, with our economic standing, it will be quite impossible to just simple replace fossil fuel with all these because technologically speaking, they are expensive. Another thing is that we’ll need vast lands and seas for us to fully stop using fossil fuel. Therefore, with whatever resources our government can afford, we are slowly incorporating renewable energies into our electrical grid. We will get there soon!