Does the average American ever ponder the thought of where the electricity that powers their lives comes from? Oil isn’t going to last much longer in the world and new sources are being discovered to replace it. Tidal energy is one of many sources being researched and developed to produce energy. But even with this clean energy source, there are drawbacks that go with all the benefits of flowing tidal water. Tidal energy is harnessed through the rise and fall of ocean tides. This is cause by the gravitational pull of the moon. The tides flow in and out and turn the underwater turbines to create electricity. The electricity is transported through cables from the bottom of the turbine, travels across the ocean floor, and the cable ends at an electricity plant. There are not many places where this resource can be effective. A tide of at least 16 feet in change is needed for the resource to be effective. The biggest energy site is the La Rance station in France. It produces more than double the energy that any other site produces. The Bay of Fundy in Novia Scotia has a lot of potential, with tides varying up to 50 feet. Tidal energy also has a small effect on the environment. No harmful gasses are emitted into the earth’s atmosphere, therefore having no destructive effects on the ozone. If anything the ocean is a carbon sink and absorbs the carbon dioxide from the air because of the coral and algae in the ocean. There is almost no carbon footprint when dealing with tidal energy. Tides are also very predictable, making the energy easier to harness. Unlike wind, the tides can be predicted making it easier to determine at what times the cables should be on, saving energy. The turbines used in harnessing the energy do have some interference with the aquatic environment. Fish migrations are interfered with and natural tidal flows can be changed. When the tides are changed, chance for pollution is increased and sediment accumulation increases. Even the best placement of the turbines won’t be avoided by fish. All attempts to stop them from interfering have either failed or have been too expensive. The fish population can be dramatically changed if they continue to interfere and if the tides are changed, the ocean will become more uncomfortable and polluted. Perhaps a solution would be to fence the turbines in so no fish could mess about them. And crews can be assembled to help reduce the sedimentation and pollution every month or so. The development of tidal energy is very simple. The repairs are easy and can be made quickly at a very low cost. Since they are placed in water, there are plenty of convenient times to make repairs. There is also no carbon dioxide produced in the process. Although it may be simple, the repairs need to be done often. Sedimentation and erosion take place on the turbines and call for maintenance. Start up costs are high and it could be a few years before profit is earned from the
how are they used for generating energy. La Rance facility in France other energy generating facilities. B. Waves what are waves and how are they formed ways they could be used for generating energy experiments/ demonstration projects with wave motions C. Ocean Currents what are they how are they made/ what drives them (ex. thermohaline circulation page. 254256) how are they used for generating energy D. Thermal Properties roughly 80% of the energy that the Sun emits to the Earth is absorbed and stored by…
Renewable Energy Renewable energy comes in many forms but you need to consider the following: • Biomass • Solar power • Wind energy • Wave energy • Tidal energy The Video that you have watched (Renewable Energy – Clip View) has given you an introduction. The basics about each are in your textbook and below but you are going to study one in detail. Your work for this week will comprise of: In your Appendix booklet, you have a great many resources on renewable energy…
Hydropower: Offshore and Tidal With the earth’s precious natural resources being used up and the pollution from our great use of fossil fuels, many nations and communities have turned to the use of alternative energy sources. Among those alternative energy sources is the use of tidal waves and currents to generate electricity. This source is known as offshore hydropower. The use of waves as an energy source is surprisingly an old method. Many farmers and settlers in the 1700s would create water…
Tidal Wave Power Luke Guest Right now, our world is being primarily powered by nonrenewable energy. That means it can only be used once like fossil fuels, such as oil, natural gas, and coal. Because fossil fuels have a limited supply and can harm the environment, many scientists and world leaders have stressed the need to find alternatives. But there is hope; renewable energy exists! Renewable energy is a source that can be used over and over like water. Two types of techniques are used…
UK energy management The current Uk energy mix is 75 million tonnes of oil, 150 million tonnes of gas, 190 million tonnes of coal, 120 millions of tonnes of nuclear, and less than 5 tonnes of hydroelectric. In the 60’s Britain relied on domestic coal reserves, soon finding further resources beneath the North Sea, Britain has used these to the point where it has almost run out, this caused The UK to begin importing resources such as natural gas from other countries such as Russia. This also led to…
Petroleum Poses Precarious Problems Presently The world’s energy crisis is here and it is a problem that will not go away unless action is taken to correct the damage that has been done. Facts only do justice to the predicament that has been caused by excessively using Earths natural resources. In the years before coal and fossil fuels being used as a primary resource of energy the Earth was in equilibrium and the thought of climate change was nonexistent. The world is responsible for consuming…
system and energy system. The table below shows the initial responses that happen to the systems mentioned above. As well, I will conclude by discussing about the relationships between the systems and also compare and contrast them. Cardiovascular system Respiratory system Neuromuscular system Energy system Increase in blood pressure Increase in heart rate Increase in cardiac output Increase in stroke volume Increase in vasodilation Anticipatory rise Breathing rate increases Increase in tidal volume…
(Rickard, Phillips, Johnstone, & Roberson, 2006). Humans get energy from aerobic respiration, which happens in cells. In this process, glucose (C6H12O6) combines with oxygen to give off CO2, H2O and energy. Sometimes, humans can perform anaerobic respiration, in which there is not enough oxygen for aerobic respiration in which glucose is released from food molecules to give off lactic acid and energy. There is much less of an energy release than aerobic respiration, for example a sprint. Anaerobic…
evolution Evolution and equilibrium Motions and forces Interdependence of organisms Form and function Conservation of energy and increase in disorder Matter, energy, and organization in living systems Interactions of energy and matter Behavior of organisms Earth and Space Science Science and Technology Science in Personal & Social Perspectives History and Nature of Science Energy in the Earth system Abilities of technological design Personal and community health Science as a human endeavor Geochemical…