Tidal power uses the tides of the ocean to make energy. This type of power is called a clean energy source because it does not use burning or any added chemicals to make the energy. Tidal energy comes from tides that move when gravity from the moon and how the Earth spins makes the tides move. When the tides move, this can create a lot of energy.
Tidal power is a renewable energy source because there will always be waves and tides. Renewable means that it cannot be used up and it can always be replaced. Using tidal energy cannot use up all of the water.
There are three different ways that people can get energy from tides. These include Tidal Turbines, tidal barrages, and tidal fences.
Tidal turbines can be put in any place where there is strong water that moves. These are turbines that are individual, and they can take the current of the water and make energy.
Tidal barrages are similar to dams. There is a reservoir that fills up when the tide is high and when the tide gets low, the barrage lets the water out. The water goes in and out and this causes the turbine blades to spin. When the blades spin, this makes energy.
Tidal fences are smaller than the tidal barrages and they are usually made between two pieces of land. When the tide moves in and out, it causes the turbine blades to spin. When the turbine blades spin, this causes there to be electricity.
In the year 1940, a man named Yoshio Masdua began to experiment with different types of wave and tide energy. He wanted to find out if there was a way to use moving water to make energy. He found that tidal power can be a renewable energy source.
In the older days, tides were used as a power source to help turn wheels and to help grind different kinds of grain.
Tidal power is expensive to use. It is expensive to find technologies that can collect energy from tides.
In order for tidal power to work, many machines and different things have to be planted. This cost a lot of money and that is why there is very limited power that is taken from tides.
Another problem with tidal power is that it can cause problems in the environment. When different technologies are put into the water, it can cause it to be hard for fish to migrate. The machines can also harm the ocean animals.