Tides/Waves Power

Allie Henning

Anneliese Sparks

Uses

• Used for Electricity

How It Produces Energy

• Tidal energy is generated by the relative motion of the Earth, Sun and the Moon

• Tidal stream generators draw energy basically the same way as wind turbines

• no standard technology for capturing the power yet but a variety of designs are being experimented with

Dam Method/Tidal Barage

• Used in mostly England

• A huge dam (called a "barrage") is built across a river estuary

• When the tide goes in and out, the water flows through tunnels in the dam.

• The flow of tides can be used to turn a turbine, or it can push air through a pipe, that turns it

Buoy Method • Used for Wave

power mostly in New York

• Power Buoy uses the rising and falling of the waves to generate power

• Power is transmitted to the shore from underwater cables

Advantages Over Non-renewable Resources

• Earth's tides are caused by the tidal forces from gravitational pulls from the Moon and Sun, and the Earth's rotation, tidal power is practically inexhaustible

What it could Replace

• Would replace wind and solar power because – More predictable– higher density of water, 832 times the density

of air – water speeds of nearly one-tenth of the speed

of wind provide the same power for the same size of turbine system

U.S. Locations

• Washington• Oregon• San Francisco• Santa Cruz• New York (East

river)• Mississippi River

• Hawaii

• Maine

• Massachusetts

• Oregon

• California

• Washington (Gray Harbor)

Pros Cons• ocean energy is dense

and extremely predictable.

• The size/energy of waves can be known anywhere from 3 to 5 days in advance.

• Tides are very predictable because they’re based on the moon

• Cost of technology likely to fall

• harsh environment• not proven on

commercial scale• environment/marine

safety issues• technology is currently

priced high• limited geographically • Tide power can only be

used when it’s going in or out (10 hours a day)

Is it Likely to Become Mainstream?

It is likely to become mainstream because we’re covered with 97% water and European countries have done a lot with it can influence the United States to consider more.

Infrastructure Michigan would Need

• Need Money• Need stronger

waves/tides

References • "Alternative Energy Source - Pros Cons Alternative Energy, Global Warming, Flex Fuels,

Efficient Jets, Bio Fuels, BioDiesel." Alternative Energy Source - Global Warming, Flex Fuels, Efficient Jets, Bio Fuels, BioDiesel. 04 Feb. 2009 <http://www.alternativeenergysource.org/pros_cons.htm>.

• "CBBC Newsround | Guides | Tech | Energy | Wave and tide power." BBC NEWS | News Front Page. 5 Dec. 2005. 05 Feb. 2009 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4480000/newsid_4488500/4488536.stm>.

• "EIA Kids Page - Energy from the ocean: tidal energy, wave energy." Energy Information Administration - EIA - Official Energy Statistics from the U.S. Government. 04 Feb. 2009 <http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/sources/renewable/ocean.html>.

• "Energy Resources: Tidal power." Andy Darvill's Science Site: Home page. 04 Feb. 2009 <http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/tidal.htm>.

• Margolis, Jason. "BBC NEWS | Technology | Wave farms show energy potential." BBC NEWS | News Front Page. 2 Mar. 2007. 03 Feb. 2009 <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6410839.stm>.

• McDermott, Matthew. "The Tide’s Rising For Wave Power: Power Buoys Installed Off the Spanish Coast :." TreeHugger. 23 Sept. 2008. 05 Feb. 2009 <http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/power-buoy-wave-power-project-spain.php>.

• Rutan, Emily. "Ocean, Tidal, and Wave Energy." Alternative Energy Stocks & Green Investing News and Strategies. 21 Nov. 2008. 04 Feb. 2009 <http://www.greenchipstocks.com/articles/ocean-tidal-wave+energy/310>.

• "Tidal power -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 03 Feb. 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_power>.

• "Wave Energy Potential Warrants Further Research And Development, Says EPRI." Science Daily: News & Articles in Science, Health, Environment & Technology. 16 Feb. 2005. 03 Feb. 2009 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/02/050215091103.htm>.