Tidal Energy


I have recently finished writing a paper for my degree about renewable energy and tidal energy. It intrested me because i live in the south west of england where several tidal energy schemes have been put foward because of the river severn having the second heighest tidal resource in the world. I was wondering whether people from other countries had heard of this technology and whether their countries had anything similar planned on a smaller scale I know there is currently a large barage scheme in France. If you have time read up about the river severn dispute between tidal barrages and tidal lagoons there is an interesting and varied arguement on the economics and ecological effects of each.

I would like to know more of your outlook on tidal energy harvesting.  I live in Gloucester, Massachusetts; where there is a tidal river that runs through the center of town.  We are also america’s oldest seaport with an inescapable gravitation toward the fishing industries.  Clam harvesting along the river banks would be an immediate issue were the topic of tidal energy to arise.  The passage of boats(industrial or recreational) would also, I suppose pose an issue.  A tidal barrage seems too expensive to convince anyone to finance it, with what would most likely be needed.  In regards to the clam harvesting problem, if the tidal barrage could be mobile or a circulatory system with stations spread out and used for extended periods of time at one location in an alternating pattern a mutual point of interest may be met.  Certain clam beds could be closed to regenerate their clam capacity as others are open to harvest.  It is similar to the system currently in place, but with the added benefit of harvesting a renewable energy that defers its own cost.  Hit me up with some more tidal knowledge.

I’m pretty sure were working on that here in oregon (USA) Im totally stoked about it; little concerned about fishes getting electrocuted but im sure the developers have our fishy friends in mind

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I watched a show about New York putting adapted wind turbines in one of the rivers. They had a lot of trouble with it because the blades were strained, but it was so great to see several businesses signed up before hand to get the energy they produced. I’ve heard about other projects in Europe but it would be cool to get local tidal projects.
I imagine in Gloucester and other fishing towns there would be a lot of concern to address before starting anything. I wonder if it would be possible to put in a system and not have it be in the way of boats.

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i remember learning about tidal power in school but it is actually in place anywhere?