As the demands for energy increased with the global increase in population, there is a need to create and invest in more clean and renewable energy sources. Energy derived from the movement of the tides is an ancient concept that is currently being harnessed in a handful of large tidal range locations. However, the need to move from fossil fuel driven energy sources to those that are clean and non-polluting is a priority for a sustainable future.
Globally, hydropower potential is estimated to be more than 16,400-Terawatt hours annually. Given that the electricity consumption worldwide was at 15,068-Terawatt hours in 2016, if properly utilized, hydropower could supply a substantial percentage of current demand.
Most of the current hydropower supply is drawn from well-established dams and tidal barrage systems. However, tidal power plants that harness the change in water height and flow along the coast have the potential to push these figures much higher. Although there is no exact number for lengths of global coastlines that can draw upon this energy source, there are estimates that put that number somewhere between 220,000 and 880,000 miles of coasts.
Hydropower uses water as its fuel in a manner roughly analogous to how a traditional coal fired power plant uses coal to fuel its turbines. However, unlike coal, this fuel is not reduced or used up in the process. Because the water the motions in a tidal cycle are part of a constantly recharging system, hydropower is essentially a 100% renewable energy source, driven by the gravitational balance between the earth and the moon.
The Importance To Earth’s Future Water Supply
It is becoming increasingly clear that water shortages are becoming a major concern in many areas around the world. With climate patterns shifting in multiyear and longer cycles and trends, U.S. West Coast water problems have already reached danger levels in many states. The combination of the Sea’s the Future Tidal System with a reverse osmosis system would remove one of the key issues that has hindered the widespread application of desalinization systems around the world. In rich countries and poor, this resource could provide relief from persistent droughts and many related socio-economic problems.
