Hydroelectric and tidal power plants are currently quite promising energy facilities. This material will consider the energy of ebbs and flows: the pros and cons of tidal power plants, the principle of operation, operating TPPs and objects planned for construction.
Alternative energy sources at a glance
Today, promising energy sources occupy the minds of not only environmentalists and scientists, but also businessmen, engineers and investors. Alternative energy sources (ebb and flow, sun, wind) are of interest due to their profitability and relatively low threat to environmental safety. In 2010, non-traditional sources of energy supply accounted for about 5% of the total consumed by mankind. Almost 2% (of the global value) was generated by tidal power plants.
How tidal power plants work
Ebb and flow energy is of interest to mankind primarily for itsinexhaustibility. The first attempts to use it for good have been made since the tenth century, when they began to create small dams with water reservoirs, and later grain mills. Similar prototypes of modern tidal power plants are still used in the national economy.
With the discovery of electricity, mechanical "power plants" were replaced by more familiar to modern man. Today, the energy of the tides of the sea rotates the blades of huge turbines, being converted into electrical energy. Thus, the same principle is used as several centuries ago, only slightly modified to suit modern conditions and increased needs.
Ebb and flow energy problems
Building tidal power plants is a very costly undertaking. In addition, from a financial point of view, the construction of large TPPs is beneficial, which is completely inappropriate for remote or sparsely populated regions. Other issues include:
- fluctuating power of the tidal power plant, due to the change in the height of the tides (and the energy of the tides also changes) every two weeks;
- discrepancy between the usual period of the solar day and the time of the occurrence of tides;
- shift between optimal energy generation time and consumption;
- in some cases additional power sources are needed near the tidal power plant.
Also existsthe opinion that the active operation of tidal power plants will lead to environmental problems previously unknown to mankind - the deceleration of the Earth's rotation. The latter is not confirmed by authoritative sources in scientific circles. The operation of a large number of TPPs will increase the length of the day by an amount nine times less than the energy of the tides (natural tidal drag).
Benefits of building tidal power plants
Against the backdrop of catastrophes and accidents that rarely happen at nuclear power plants, but leave a memory of themselves for a long time, alternative energy sources look like a safe alternative. While there are many challenges in building tidal power plants, there are also many benefits:
- Sustainability. In the case of PES, the probability of a man-made disaster with subsequent contamination of vast territories is reduced to almost zero. There are also no harmful emissions into the atmosphere from fuel combustion.
- Reliability. Tidal power plants operate steadily both in standard mode and at peak loads.
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Low energy cost. Compared to other types of power plants, PES has a low cost of energy, which was confirmed by the real results of operation.
- High efficiency. The efficiency of converting natural energy into usable energy reaches 80%, while wind power plants provide up to 30% efficiency, and solar energy- on average 5-15%, but in some cases it was possible to fix 35% efficiency.
La Rance: First tidal power plant
The reference point for the spread of tidal power plants was 1967, when La Rance, the first TPP located in France, in the historical region of Brittany, was put into operation. The use of tidal energy here was due to significant tides, reaching thirteen and a half meters with a usual height of eight meters.
The capacity of the La Rance TPS is 240 MW, and the cost of one unit of energy (kWh) is one and a half times lower than usual for French power plants. The dam of the power plant performs not only the functions of ensuring the uninterrupted operation of the energy facility, but is also a bridge over which the road passes, connecting the cities of Dinard and St. Malo. In addition, "La Rance" is a popular tourist attraction that attracts up to two hundred thousand travelers to France.
PES in South Korea: the most powerful power plant
Sikhvinskaya TPP is another outstanding facility of alternative energy, which is located on the northwest coast of South Korea in an artificial bay. The power plant was put into operation in 2011 and quickly pushed the world's first TPP to the second position in terms of capacity.
Directly, the construction of the power plant was preceded by the need to createfresh water reservoir. Later, the quality of the water began to deteriorate, and in 1997 (after confirming the hunches and developing solutions by the marine research institute), it was decided to make a hole in the dam. This made it possible to use the energy of the ebbs and flows. The construction of the TPP started in 2003 and was scheduled to start up in 2009. Due to construction delays, the power plant was launched in 2011.
Tidal power plants elsewhere in the world
Ebb and flow countries are not limited to progressive France and technologically advanced South Korea. Tidal power plants operated in:
- UK;
- Norway;
- Canada;
- China;
- India;
- United States of America.
Some more states are planning to build such facilities.
Tidal power plants in Russia
In Russia, tidal energy has been used since 1968 as part of the operation of an experimental TPP on Kisla Guba in the Barents Sea (pictured). During Soviet times, projects were developed for the construction of three more tidal power plants (one in the White Sea and two in the Sea of Okhotsk). Nothing is known about the current status of both facilities, while the Mezen TPP, which is being designed in the Arkhangelsk region, has a chance to become the most powerful tidal power plant in the world. Also at the design stage is the Northern TPP on the Kola Peninsula.
Plans for future use
Ebb and flow energy is recognized by the world community as a promising source, so that several TPP projects are being actively developed in different countries of the world. Thus, in the near future it is planned to build tidal power plants in South Korea, Scotland, the Indian state of Gujarat, New York and the city of Swansea in the UK. The rational use of such a resource will significantly reduce the share of energy obtained in the traditional way, towards a more environmentally friendly, reliable and safe solution.
