Nov 30 2010
A number of companies are beginning to see renewable energy future in tidal energy. Most of the high tidal places across the world witness sudden rise of tides that are sometimes as high as 6 m. The tides submerge the nearby land and drain back only to come again during certain times of the day.
Though the widespread use of this energy source needs further refinement, proponents of tidal energy suggest that the hydrokinetic systems and tides from rivers and ocean waves can meet up to 10% of USA’s power requirements, which are more than the power generated by hydro power from dams.
Ocean Renewable Power, a start up company, has tucked one of its horizontal tidal turbines under the tides to generate the much needed current. The tidal turbine representing the look of a big-sized lawnmower reel is placed strategically to exploit the gravitation force generated by moon and sun over the tides on the sea.
Ryan Beaumont, an engineer who monitored the functioning of the turbine, said that the new tidal turbine incorporates a cutting-edge technology. He called the machine as Kitty Hawk of tidal energy and said that no one has made such an attempt with tidal energy before. The company is looking forward to link the power produced from the turbine to the eastern Maine power grid.
In September this year, the US Energy Department provided $37 million as a parallel grant for start up companies in the tidal project with prototype projects that are close to commercial power production and a number of states and military also extended to required support.
Ocean Power Technologies, yet another tidal power company, has worked along with the Marine Corps and linked a test buoy to a power grid. In the US, a number of pilot projects are taking place in several locations. Canada is also investing a significant amount of money for three pilot projects.