Explain Tidal Energy OR How can electrical energy be generated using tidal energy of the sea (ocean) ?

ANS:


* The level of water near the seacoast changes twice a day. This everyday movement of water along the seashore is known as tides. A high tide occurs on every new moon day and on a full moon day. During the tide the water level rises by a few meters.

* The energy possessed by the rising and falling water is known as tidal energy.

* a dam is constructed across a narrow opening of a sea. Due to tide, the water moves in and out through the openings and flows over the turbines fixed inside the walls of the dam. The movement of turbines generates electricity.

* Tides are not uniform and the rise and fall of water is not large enough to generate electricity on a large scale. Also, there are a very few sites where we find a narrow opening suitable for a dam.

* Wind energy is an indirect form of solar energy. Wind possesses tremendous kinetic energy and causes waves in the oceans. The height of such waves is great when the wind velocity is high. Such waves can be used to generate electricity by rotating turbines using their energy.

* The greatest limitation of this method is that the location of turbine and other equipment is in the sea. They require a lot of maintenance and replacement. This makes them costlier.