Benefits of Tides

Benefits of Tides

Tides occur when sea levels rise and fall due to gravitational pull exerted by the Earth’s rotation. In most occasions, the ocean normally experience low tides and high tides twice a day (also known as semidiurnal tide, whereas some areas experience one low and high tide every day (commonly known as diurnal tide). Since the tide occurs frequently in the ocean, it can be harnessed to provide vast energy. Although this type of energy is plentiful and reliable, converting it to electrical power requires vast resources and expertise.

1. Provides renewable energy
Tidal energy is free and renewable because tides occur when ocean currents are affected by winds and solar orbital mechanics. Since it is renewable, tidal energy shows potential for electricity and power generation as they provide inexhaustible energy. However, the effectiveness of tidal energy largely depends on each wave (the rise and fall of periodic waves).

2. Long-term use
Tidal energy is also convenient because it is a reliable source of power. When a tidal barrage is built, the scheme can prevent the destruction of forests for timber and other farming activities. This in turn reduces environmental pollution as it eliminates the need of fossil fuels. In other words, tidal energy is the best alternative and needs to be harnessed to meet the high demand of energy.

3. No green house emissions
The type of energy produced from tides is clean. No by–products or carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere. In addition to that, tides occur once or twice everyday which means there will always be sufficient energy. This way, electricity is sufficient to sustain the high demand.

4. Not expensive
Vertical turbines are inexpensive to build and can last for about 100 years with minimal maintenance. They also use an abundant cheap fuel source as they depend on water that is readily available.

Despite of having an array of benefits, tidal power also have their share of drawbacks as well. They only provide electricity 10 hours per day when the tides are high.

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