A new video on The Tesla Domain channel of YouTube enthusiastically describes power derived from the tides as a “new wave of clean and renewable energy.” The video offers several impressive animations to explain how tides work and the operation of tidal barrages, tidal stream generators and tidal lagoons, providing an excellent introduction to anyone unfamiliar with these power generation methods.
“This is the Amazing Energy Source That’s More Powerful Than Wind and Solar Together” compares current energy costs for fossil fuel, hydroelectric, and solar generation, showing them roughly equivalent to the cost of energy produced by the La Rance tidal barrage in France. The video balances its optimism with mentions of potential environmental problems of tidal energy generation. It also notes the lack of any tidal generation projects in the U.S.A. while other countries in Europe and Asia are making more meaningful efforts to add tidal power to their mix of energy sources.
As for the future, the video only warns that “there’s a lot of work that needs to be done before we can begin full scale production.”
Some may quibble with some of the video’s conclusions, such as lagging U.S.A. tidal power development being caused by “legal concerns about underwater land ownership” that make investors unenthusiastic. And the title of the video, claiming tidal energy is a source “more powerful than wind and solar together,” might be a bit exaggerated — maybe to attract viewers. Evidence to support the title’s claim doesn’t seem to appear in the video.
Nonetheless, just the animations illustrating the basics of modern tidal power generation make the 7-minute video well worth watching.