Question

. What are some of the effects on the environment from tidal power?

Answer 1

There are two kinds of tidal power stations:
• Tidal stream systems, which use turbines turned by the moving water to generate electricity. Very like wind power.
• Barrage systems. These are like dams built across rivers. After the tide comes in, the gates are closed. When the tide is low enough on the downstream side, the water flows through turbines rather like a hydro-electric dam.

Barrage systems are expensive to build and maintain. They create problems for fish, swimming through the turbines, and they may encourage more sediment built up behind the barrages.

If Tidal power stations are replacing fossil-fuel-burning power stations, then they are a positive effect on the environment. No carbon dioxide, obviously, is produced from tidal power stations. They are a renewable source of energy as long as the water keeps moving.