Tidal Power

1. Tidal Power • Tidal waves are influenced by a combination of the lunar gravitational pull and changes in weather patterns. • This is why waves tend to be higher at night: the moon is more directly involved in the tidal movements. • The force and directional movements of tidal power are harnessed through hydroelectric pumps, which then use existing electrical grids to power consumer appliances such as lights, outlets, and possibly electrically powered vehicles.

2. Cost of Tidal Power • Exact cost to construct tidal energy convertors is difficult to estimate, because there are lots of factors to keep in mind, such as location, size of waves, distance to consumers, and work force size. • Technology for tidal energy is well developed, but is not used as much as it could be because it can take as long as 10 years to construct a fully operational system.

3. Types of Tidal Energy Convertors • Dams are need to reserve the water for continuous energy flow • Gates and turbines are where the water passes to generate energy • An electric generator I needed to turn kinetic motion into electrical energy • Finally, power lines are needed to transport the energy to consumer locations

4. Question 1: What is the USA/NY investment in tidal power? Why should NY/USA invest in Tidal Power? • Currently, there are no ocean based tidal power plants in the USA. • Departments of Energy and Interior Announce $26.6 Million in Funding to Develop Advanced Hydropower Technologies • Hydroelectric technologies make up 7.1% of the technologies used for electricity in America and 19% of global technologies used • There are currently a little over 850 hydroelectric plants in the United States • There are 9 fully-operational hydroelectric power plants in New York • New York should invest in tidal power because the Hudson and Mohawk rivers have lots of potential for funneling the current into a turbine that can power a generator. There is also a long coastline along Long Island that can use tidal power converters • The US should invest in tidal power because there are lots of powerful national rivers such as the Mississippi and Colorado rivers as well as having lots of coastline (Atlantic, gulf of Mexico, pacific, and Alaskan coastline) • New York and the USA also have the technological advancements in place that would make tidal power more profitable more quickly than some other types of alternative power.

5. ADVANTAGES· It is very cheap to maintain· There is no waste or pollution· Very reliable· We can predict when tides will be in or out· The barrage can help to reduce the damage of very high tidal surges or storms on   the land • Can create more jobs

6. DISADVANTAGES· It changes the coastline completely and the estuaries are flooded so any mud flats   or habitats that birds or animals live on are destroyed· Initial building cost is very expensive· Water is not replenished, it cannot flow away so any dirt or pollution lingers around   the coast much longer· Silt builds up behind the barrage· Disrupts creatures’ migration in the oceans· Needs a very big piece of sea to be cost effective· Not many sites suitable for this kind of power generation; building the barrage· Only produces power for about 10 hours of the day • Taxes might go up due to public works on maintaining the plants