The document discusses tidal power as a renewable energy source. It begins with an introduction that explains tidal power is generated from the motion of the Earth-Moon system and can be captured via barrages or tidal current systems. While costly to implement, tidal power plants have durability over 100 years with relatively low operating costs. A case study of Poland found opportunities in access to the Baltic Sea but also threats from an unstable political situation and lack of long-term energy vision. The document concludes tidal energy is predictable but current technology has severe environmental impacts, though development may reduce costs and effects on ocean life.
2. TABLE OF CONTENT
• Introduction
• Sustainability assessment
• Economics
• Environmental impacts
• SWOT analysis - a case study of Poland
• Conclusions and future prospective
3. Introduction
Tidal energy is a result of the motion in the
Earth-Moon system.
The basic principles of the tidal power
utilization technology are:
• Altering the tidal energy by barrage systems
into the electricity
(Right-up picture)
• Altering the kinetic energy of the tides by
tidal current systems into the electricity
(Right-down picture)
4. Introduction
Advantages of tidal power utilization:
• Renewable and durable source of energy
• Predictable energy source compared with
• Pollution free
• Controls the impacts on a coastline against
Damage from high storm tides
5. Introduction
Disadvantages of tidal power
utilization:
• It is presently costly to build and
maintain
• It has negative environmental
affects
6. Sustainability assessment: Economics
• Initial costs of implementation – very high
• Durability of these plants (more than 100 years) and rather low operation costs make
them competitive on the market
• Example:
• La Rance, power plant in France with initial costs estimated to be around $66 million,
but the money was reclaimed due to long operating time (45 years now).
• For guidance only, costs in France:
• La Rance-240 megawatts generator generates the electricity at 3, 7 eurocents per kwh
• Conventional power plant - 10, 8 Eurocents per kwh
• Nuclear power plant - 3, 8 Eurocents
• Hydropower plant - 3, 7 Eurocents per kwh
7. Sustainability assessment: Environmental
impacts
• Only few studies by now
However it is known that:
The tidal current turbines less harmful than older,
barrage systems
Water turbidity affected due to the change of
sedimentation movements
Ocean life suffers from direct contact with turbines
Barrage lowers the tidal range, affects the intertidal
zone, thus birds that feed on it
Recent study - sound linked with the turbines shifts the
water pressure, hence, harms fish tissue
9. SWOT analysis - a case study of Poland
Opportunities Threats
access to the Baltic sea unstable political situation (key role of
relations with Russia – main gas provider)
potential interest of investors (provided that
environmental policy changes and there is
more financial support)
no long-term vision on energy policy puts
investors off
implementation of the legislation, including
the energy strategy until 2020, as a further
plan for supporting renewable power
utilization
not clear environmental legislation
high costs of technology (limited utilization
hydro power to units below 1 MW)
10. Conclusions and future prospective
• Tidal energy is the type of green energy which is rather predictable and
reliable.
• Every day development of the technology makes it more applicable because
it reduces its costs.
• The case of France shows that tidal power can be already used efficiently,
and the further development will make it even more feasible.
• There is a need for more studies, however, it is known that there are severe
environmental impacts that further development can reduce.
• Case of Poland shows that tidal power is not the main interest among other
renewable sources, however there is some potential if the new legislation
and support plan are introduced.