tidal energy

tidal energy as a term is often used to refer to all forms of energy from large bodies of water. Sometimes it's a misnomer. Wave energy is a sister technology to tidal power and this is often lumped into discussions under the banner tidal energy.

As with most forms of renewable, green energy, there are various different streams of research and product development in the tidal and wave energy field.

tidal energy
The two main technologies are Tidal Stream and tidal lagoon. Tidal stream involves tapping the energy of a running tidal current. Tidal Lagoon, on the other hand is more akin to hydro-electric generation by usinmg water under pressure to generate power. The pressure in Tidal Lagoon comes from gravity, water being trapped in dam-like holding areas and released in a controlled manner via a determined route. This dam element, or indeed lagoon is naturally filled by tidal flow, hence the term, tidal lagoon.

Wave Energy
Wave energy is akin to tidal stream in that it envolves tapping the kinetic energy contained in the movement of sea or water-body waves. Aparatus are generally placed on or near the surface of the water and oscillations of them excites an electric current in their generating equipment.

Of the three technologies above, tidal lagoon is the furthest towards becoming a commercially exploitable green energy solution. While tidal stream and wave are reliably producing power, it's at a significantly greater cost just now. However, work goes on and part of the aim of this section of the site is to keep track of the latest news and developments in all areas of water power - whether wave, tidal or whatever.

Additionally, this section aims to provide a comprehensive range or informative features and articles on all aspects of water power. Articles are being researched and added all the time, so please bookmark us and check back often. Further, you can find a range of further reading presented down the right hand side of the feature pages, as well as finding links to relevant suppliers and sites in the links section top left of each article narrative.

tidal energy articles

tidal energy in the news

Minister announces Ł1.5m wave energy funding - New Energy Focus
29 Jul 2010 at 5:07pm
New Energy FocusMinister announces Ł1.5m wave energy fundingNew Energy Focus"The UK is already leading the way in marine energy, with 25% of the world's wave and tidal technologies being developed here. This is a huge opportunity ...Ocean Power Technologies wins grant for work in CornwallThe Birmingham Postall 32 news articles »

Tory group warns of danger of power failures by 2016 - WalesOnline
31 Jul 2010 at 9:57am
Tory group warns of danger of power failures by 2016WalesOnline... that government policy towards renewables focuses too much on intermittent supplies, such as wind, or untried technologies such as tidal or wave power. ...

Powerful argument - PlanningResource (subscription)
30 Jul 2010 at 9:25am
Powerful argumentPlanningResource (subscription)In a recent speech, energy minister Charles Hendry indicated that the government would apply the regime to the offshore wind programme, wave and tidal ...and more »

Ł1.5m to UK Wave Hub - Renewable Energy Focus
30 Jul 2010 at 4:03pm
Better Generation (blog)Ł1.5m to UK Wave HubRenewable Energy Focus?The UK is already leading the way in marine energy, with 25% of the world's wave and tidal technologies being developed here. This is a huge opportunity ..."Powerbuoy" - the Wave Hub's floating First MateBetter Generation (blog)all 8 news articles »

Investment boost for wave energy - BBC News
23 Jul 2010 at 1:03pm
Investment boost for wave energyBBC NewsIain Gray, chief executive of the Technology Strategy Board, said: "The UK is well placed to exploit wave and tidal stream energy resources with all of the ...British bodies get support for wave and tidal energy projectsThe Engineerall 4 news articles »

BP oil spill: the rise and fall of Tony Hayward - Telegraph.co.uk
27 Jul 2010 at 7:00am
Telegraph.co.ukBP oil spill: the rise and fall of Tony HaywardTelegraph.co.ukThis first effort to shift the blame, unleashed a initial tidal wave of hostility among US politicans and media. In Hayward's first UK newspaper interview ...and more »