If you have ever been to the ocean, you were probably fascinated by the phenomena of the waves crashing against the shorelines as the tides came in. The ocean’s tides are the product of gravitational pull of the sun and the moon, as well as, the Earth’s rotation. It causes the ocean waters to be raised and lowered from time to time. The tides have cycles of twelve and one half hours, twice per day, and are easily predictable.

The use of tidal power is seen as early as the twelfth century where tidal mills used the force of the tides to grind grain and corn. The eighteenth century brought competition from windmills and waterwheels. Tidal mills pretty much became extinct with the invention of cheap steam engines. In 1967, France became the first to be able to put tidal wave power to work on a large scale to produce electricity.

The generation of electricity from tidal waves is similar to that of hydroelectric power generation. Bigger dams, known as barrages, are built on the bottom of a tidal basin. Gates on the barrage allow the tidal basin to fill during incoming high tides. Likewise, the basin will empty through a turbine during the outgoing tide. This would turn an electric generator for the production of electricity. There are also systems that generate electricity from incoming and outgoing tides. This system can have a negative effect on plants and animals in the area.

Tidal fences are also used to generate electricity. Vertical axis turbines are mounted on fences. Passing water is forced through the turbines. Ideal locations for these are channels between two landmasses. Tidal fences are cheaper than tidal barrages and cause less of an environmental impact on large marine life.

Tidal turbines are a new technology used for tidal energy. They are similar to wind turbines and are arranged underwater in rows. They work best in areas with strong tides. Although they are heavier and costlier to build, they also are capable of capturing more energy. They are also the least environmentally damaging of all the tidal power technologies, since they do not interfere with migration paths.

In order for tidal power to work successfully it requires a tide difference of at least sixteen feet. Unfortunately there are only a few places where this occurs. This means tidal power plants cannot just be constructed anywhere. There are only a handful of sites on Earth with this type of tidal range. At present, France is the only country that has been successful in using tidal power. It is hoped developments in technology, through research, will be made to allow better use of this, what is now, wasted energy. The future of tidal energy seems hopeful. Tidal power has great potential and hopefully we can make better use of it in the future in our quest to find a replacement for fossil fuels.

The Original Post is Located Here: Ocean Tidal Power as Renewable Energy

Jindo Uldolmok Tidal Power

A ceremony for the Jindo Uldolmok Tidal Power Plant was held in Uldolmok, an area off Jindo, an island in South Jeolla Province, according to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs.

The plant, harnessing the fast tidal movement in the area, will initially generate enough electricity to power 430 households.

The construction, started in April 2005, took 12.5 billion won ($9.9 million) to complete, the ministry said. All the technologies applied to building it were locally developed.

“It’s not official, but to our knowledge, it is the second tidal power plant in the world, after the United Kingdom built a tidal power plant in 2008,” said an official at the ministry, requesting anonymity.

“Building a tidal power plant requires high technology, which we think only a few countries have obtained so far.”

According to the official, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has asked to partner with Korea on tidal power technology.

The Korean government believes the Uldolmok Tidal Power Plant is a big stride to achieving its goal of generating 5,260 gigawatt hours using tidal power by 2020.

To that end, the ministry plans to extend the facility capacity of the Uldolmok plant by 2013 to provide electricity for around 46,000 households.

The expanded plant will have a 90 megawatt capacity, 90 times what it now has, the ministry said.

If the extension is made, it will be the world’s biggest tidal power plant, according to the ministry. With the operation of the extended power plant, Korea can save 200,000 barrels of crude oil every year, the ministry said.

The ministry is also conducting feasibility surveys on the sea near Jindo for the site of two additional tidal power plants.

“Low-carbon green growth is a solution to the fast depletion of fossil fuel energy and climate change,” said Choi Jang-hyun, land vice minister, during the completion ceremony for the Uldolmok plant.

“That’s the reason we are focused on the development of the sea, which is rich in renewable energy sources,” he added. According to the ministry, Korea is also set to roll out its first wave power plant, equipped with 25.4 kilowatt capacity, in Sihwa, Gyeonggi Province by the second half of next year.

Udolmok was the historical stage for a famous sea battle between Korea and Japan during the Joseon Dynasty. Thirteen ships led by Admiral Yi Sun-sin defeated some 330 Japanese ships during the 1592-98 Imjin War, according to historical documents in Korea.

Yesterday’s ceremony was also attended by Park Jun-young, governor of South Jeolla Province, and 500 residents of Jindo. Korea imports 97 percent of its energy.

By Moon Gwang-lip

The Original Post is Located Here: Korea opens its first tidal power-generating plant