Tidal.

[jomoco]

Seems tidal and wave generation projects are up and running well in lots of places worldwide, particularly the UK n France!

 

Top news, August 8 ? 14, 2016 | Tidal Energy Today

 

That Trident Linear wave powered snake's pretty neat too.

 

http://www.industrytap.com/sea-snakes-convert-wave-energy-power/22856

 

Jomoco

Edited September 29, 2016 by jomoco

[matelot]

this just about sums it up... not so much the problems that must be many, but the lack of locations to apply systems..

 

With wind you can scale up, with tidal estuaries you'd have to have a bespoke system for each location.. meaning economies of scale can't be applied as economically.. if at all...

 

With that, its safe to say tidal energy is dead in the water.. I'd not even considered that before..

 

Theres also the grid to consider, would they have to upgrade that for tidal electric, and would it be worth it for a couple of towns worth of electric?..

 

there are literally hundreds of locations in the UK where you could have tidal power stations...

 

I'd imagine tidal power would use the same type of generator in each location, so you do get "economies of scale".

 

what's your answer to power generation? just keep on burning the fossil fuels and watch the polar bears drown? buy gas from Saudi and watch them use the money to support Islamic State? Use nuclear and just hope that no nuclear power station is attacked by terrorists?

[matelot]

tidal power has been used for the last 1000 years...

 

here is a picture of a tidal mill from France...

[muldonach]

There are systems that work on the movement of waves rather than tidal flow as well. Imagine a 'snake' consisting of lots of individual units connected by springs/cabling. As the waves move the snake the cables and springs extend and contract which can be transfered to electric. Like a kids toy with a drawstring essentially. I have no idea how effective/expensive they are but seems like a great concept.

 

Hmm - since all waves are wind generated this is just wind power in another guise - with lots of moving parts

 

cheers

mac

[Stubby]

40 watt bulbs for use on neap tides and 100 watt bulbs for use on spring tides.....

[Woodworks]

Hmm - since all waves are wind generated this is just wind power in another guise - with lots of moving parts

 

cheers

mac

 

But we often have plenty of wave energy when there is no wind. Low pressures way out in the Atlantic can pound our shores with waves long before we feel the winds from these systems. Think we need to do every option available to us then will still need some fossil fuel and nuclear on top.