Why​ ​we​ ​should​ ​we​ ​use​ ​tidal​ ​energy

● ​ ​Tidal​ ​Energy​ ​GO​ ​TEAM

● Benefits​ ​of​ ​tidal​ ​energy
○ Tidal​ ​energy​ ​is​ ​predictable​ ​-​ ​tides​ ​go​ ​in​ ​and​ ​out​ ​in​ ​a​ ​repeated​ ​cycle​ ​that​ ​can​ ​be
figured​ ​out​ ​by​ ​the​ ​location​ ​of​ ​the​ ​sun​ ​and​ ​moon
○ Consistent​ ​energy​ ​-​ ​tidal​ ​energy​ ​will​ ​never​ ​just​ ​stop​ ​suddenly
● Downsides
○ ​ ​Very​ ​specific​ ​site​ ​location
○ Detrimental​ ​to​ ​wildlife​ ​that​ ​get​ ​caught​ ​in​ ​the​ ​dam/prevented​ ​from​ ​going​ ​out​ ​to​ ​sea
or​ ​hurt​ ​by​ ​underwater​ ​windmill-​ ​yah​ ​but​ ​fish​ ​can​ ​learn​ ​to​ ​swim​ ​around​ ​stuff
Intro
● Hydroelectric​ ​Energy​ ​should​ ​be​ ​adopted​ ​because​ ​it​ ​is​ ​not​ ​only​ ​more
effective​ ​than​ ​wind​ ​energy​ ​but​ ​also​ ​more​ ​predictable​ ​than​ ​wind
energy.​ ​Tidal​ ​energy​ ​is​ ​a​ ​clearly​ ​superior​ ​energy​ ​technology​ ​when
compared​ ​with​ ​other​ ​alternative​ ​energies​ ​such​ ​as​ ​wind​ ​energy.​ ​The
ocean​ ​is​ ​832​ ​times​ ​more​ ​dense​ ​than​ ​air,​ ​this​ ​means​ ​the​ ​turbines​ ​that
generate​ ​energy​ ​generate​ ​far​ ​more​ ​energy​ ​when​ ​active.​ ​Tidal​ ​energy
generates​ ​energy​ ​based​ ​on​ ​the​ ​low​ ​and​ ​high​ ​tides,​ ​these​ ​are
predictable​ ​events​ ​that​ ​occur​ ​every​ ​day.​ ​Other​ ​renewable​ ​energies
that​ ​generate​ ​similar​ ​amounts​ ​of​ ​energy​ ​are​ ​not​ ​as​ ​predictable​ ​and
can​ ​often​ ​lead​ ​to​ ​unexpected​ ​power​ ​droughts.​ ​Hydroelectric​ ​energy​ ​is
similar​ ​to​ ​tidal​ ​energy​ ​however​ ​has​ ​a​ ​wider​ ​range​ ​of​ ​applications​ ​and
more​ ​flexible.​ ​Hydroeletric​ ​energy​ ​does​ ​n
Rebuttals
● Wind​ ​energy​ ​does​ ​not​ ​outdo​ ​hydroelectric​ ​because​ ​the​ ​ocean​ ​is​ ​832​ ​times​ ​more
dense​ ​than​ ​air,​ ​meaning​ ​that​ ​tidal​ ​energy​ ​produces​ ​more​ ​energy.
● Solar​ ​still​ ​produces​ ​extremely​ ​harmful​ ​air​ ​pollutants​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​produce​ ​them.
● Are​ ​solar​ ​panels​ ​affordable​ ​for​ ​the​ ​everyday​ ​American?
● ​ ​Biomass​ ​and​ ​Biofuel​ ​have​ ​no​ ​realistic​ ​use​ ​for​ ​large​ ​scale​ ​energy​ ​needs​ ​or​ ​power
stations​ ​for​ ​cities,​ ​for​ ​example.​ ​Biomass​ ​takes​ ​weeks​ ​to​ ​grow,​ ​requires​ ​large
plots​ ​of​ ​land,​ ​and​ ​is​ ​only​ ​feasible​ ​for​ ​individual​ ​use​ ​to​ ​cut​ ​energy​ ​needs.​ ​Biomass
can’t​ ​power​ ​large​ ​energy​ ​grids.
 ● The​ ​weather​ ​changes,​ ​the​ ​wind​ ​stops,​ ​the​ ​clouds​ ​cover​ ​the​ ​sun.​ ​The​ ​tides​ ​always
rise​ ​and​ ​fall​ ​in​ ​easily​ ​predictable​ ​cycles.
● Even​ ​if​ ​nuclear​ ​energy​ ​is​ ​safer,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​no​ ​viable​ ​nuclear​ ​waste​ ​solution.
Compared​ ​to​ ​Tidal​ ​energy,​ ​nuclear​ ​energy​ ​has​ ​the​ ​potential​ ​to​ ​harm​ ​a​ ​large​ ​area
usually​ ​with​ ​high​ ​populations.​ ​Tidal​ ​energy​ ​affects​ ​a​ ​small​ ​area,​ ​life​ ​will​ ​move
from​ ​the​ ​area.​ ​Life​ ​can’t​ ​escape​ ​nuclear​ ​radiation.
● Nuclear​ ​is​ ​technically​ ​a​ ​non-renewable.​ ​The​ ​uranium​ ​ore​ ​that​ ​needs​ ​to​ ​be​ ​dug​ ​up
over​ ​and​ ​over​ ​again​ ​cannot​ ​be​ ​recreated​ ​in​ ​the​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​time​ ​it​ ​takes​ ​to​ ​use​ ​up.
Relying​ ​on​ ​Nuclear​ ​power​ ​would​ ​lead​ ​to​ ​a​ ​shortage,​ ​it​ ​cannot​ ​be​ ​a​ ​long​ ​term
solution.
● Geothermal​ ​does​ ​not​ ​have​ ​energy​ ​grid​ ​potential​ ​nor​ ​is​ ​it​ ​feasible​ ​for​ ​much​ ​of​ ​the
world’s​ ​population​ ​or​ ​cities.
● Is​ ​the​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​pollution​ ​from​ ​production​ ​of​ ​solar​ ​panels​ ​constantly​ ​being​ ​produced
actually​ ​make​ ​up​ ​for​ ​what​ ​isn’t​ ​produced?
●
Conclusion
● You​ ​may​ ​be​ ​thinking​ ​that​ ​hydroelectric​ ​energy​ ​is​ ​very​ ​exclusive​ ​to​ ​coastal​ ​areas,
but​ ​while​ ​there​ ​is​ ​tidal​ ​energy,​ ​the​ ​main​ ​process​ ​we​ ​have​ ​been​ ​talking​ ​about,
which​ ​is​ ​a​ ​great​ ​source​ ​of​ ​energy​ ​for​ ​coastal​ ​areas,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​also​ ​ocean​ ​thermal
energy,​ ​which​ ​uses​ ​the​ ​heat​ ​of​ ​the​ ​ocean​ ​absorbed​ ​by​ ​the​ ​sun​ ​to​ ​produce
energy,​ ​and​ ​there​ ​is​ ​also​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​produce​ ​energy​ ​along​ ​rivers.​ ​Civilization
historically​ ​aligns​ ​itself​ ​along​ ​rivers​ ​and​ ​bodies​ ​of​ ​water,​ ​which​ ​makes​ ​sense,​ ​this
also​ ​means​ ​that​ ​most​ ​major​ ​cities​ ​are​ ​near​ ​some​ ​body​ ​of​ ​water,​ ​which​ ​means
that​ ​most​ ​major​ ​cities​ ​can​ ​use​ ​hydroelectricity.​ ​Another​ ​form​ ​of​ ​hydroelectricity​ ​is
wave​ ​energy​ ​which​ ​uses​ ​a​ ​contraption​ ​which​ ​sits​ ​on​ ​the​ ​surface​ ​of​ ​the​ ​ocean​ ​and
harvests​ ​ ​energy​ ​from​ ​the​ ​force​ ​of​ ​the​ ​waves
● ​ ​The​ ​environmental​ ​impact​ ​can​ ​be​ ​reduced​ ​by​ ​the​ ​method​ ​used​ ​to​ ​harness
hydroelectric​ ​energy.
●
●
● ​ ​Hydroelectricity​ ​is​ ​honestly​ ​the​ ​alternative​ ​energy​ ​that​ ​affects​ ​the​ ​environment
the​ ​least,​ ​underwater​ ​turbines​ ​only​ ​environmental​ ​impact​ ​being​ ​what​ ​it​ ​takes​ ​to
build​ ​them,​ ​and​ ​that​ ​is​ ​no​ ​more​ ​than​ ​say​ ​a​ ​wind​ ​turbine.​ ​Hydroelectricity​ ​also​ ​has
a​ ​lot​ ​more​ ​variation​ ​in​ ​its​ ​possible​ ​locations

What​ ​waste/pollutants​ ​does​ ​this​ ​energy​ ​produce​ ​and​ ​how​ ​do​ ​you​ ​plan​ ​to​ ​minimize​ ​the
environmental​ ​impact​ ​of​ ​these​ ​wastes/pollutants?
There​ ​is​ ​an​ ​environmental​ ​impact​ ​of​ ​hydropower​ ​and​ ​tidal​ ​power,​ ​the​ ​wildlife​ ​in​ ​the
immediate​ ​area​ ​and​ ​the​ ​bodies​ ​of​ ​water​ ​themselves​ ​can​ ​be​ ​diverted​ ​or​ ​dry​ ​up.​ ​There
are​ ​innovative​ ​ways​ ​to​ ​reduce​ ​the​ ​ecological​ ​impact​ ​of​ ​hydropower​ ​by​ ​using​ ​weirs​ ​and
individual​ ​turbines​ ​which​ ​do​ ​not​ ​disrupt​ ​waterflow.​ ​However,​ ​the​ ​environmental​ ​impact
of​ ​creating​ ​the​ ​actual​ ​generators​ ​is​ ​minimal.​ ​In​ ​comparison​ ​to​ ​solar​ ​energy,​ ​hydropower
and​ ​tidal​ ​power​ ​is​ ​significantly​ ​greener​ ​because​ ​of​ ​the​ ​pollutants​ ​released​ ​in​ ​the
production​ ​of​ ​the​ ​tools​ ​to​ ​harness​ ​energy.

What​ ​are​ ​the​ ​major​ ​advantages​ ​of​ ​this​ ​energy​ ​source?

● Predictable
● Little​ ​to​ ​no​ ​effect​ ​on​ ​wildlife,​ ​in​ ​fact,​ ​it’s​ ​beneficial​ ​acting​ ​as​ ​an​ ​artificial​ ​reef
● Water​ ​is​ ​832​ ​times​ ​more​ ​dense​ ​than​ ​air,​ ​generating​ ​far​ ​more​ ​energy
● Most​ ​of​ ​civilization​ ​is​ ​based​ ​around​ ​coasts,​ ​lakes,​ ​or​ ​rivers.​ ​Hydropower
has​ ​potential​ ​to​ ​become​ ​the​ ​primary​ ​energy​ ​source​ ​for​ ​large​ ​power​ ​grids
and​ ​powering​ ​smaller​ ​individual​ ​utilities​ ​such​ ​as​ ​car​ ​charging​ ​stations.

What​ ​are​ ​the​ ​major​ ​disadvantages​ ​of​ ​this​ ​energy​ ​source?

● Need​ ​more​ ​effective​ ​energy​ ​storage​ ​solutions

● Very​ ​limited​ ​in​ ​terms​ ​of​ ​placement-

Rebuttals​ ​to​ ​Disadvantages

● Individual​ ​turbines​ ​are​ ​not​ ​harmful​ ​to​ ​fish.​ ​(See​ ​Blue​ ​below)
● Tidal​ ​power​ ​is​ ​fairly​ ​limited,​ ​yes,​ ​but​ ​overall​ ​hydropower​ ​can​ ​be​ ​implemented​ ​in
most​ ​bodies​ ​of​ ​water.
Outline​ ​how​ ​this​ ​energy​ ​source​ ​might​ ​be​ ​used​ ​to​ ​meet​ ​our​ ​energy​ ​needs​ ​for
transportation​ ​and​ ​agriculture.

The​ ​immense​ ​store​ ​of​ ​energy​ ​generated​ ​by​ ​hydroelectric​ ​and​ ​tidal​ ​power
would​ ​allow​ ​electric​ ​cars​ ​to​ ​finally​ ​take​ ​off​ ​and​ ​become​ ​the​ ​primary
transportation​ ​source.​ ​Charging​ ​stations​ ​could​ ​be​ ​set​ ​up​ ​along​ ​coasts​ ​and
rivers,​ ​which​ ​most​ ​of​ ​civilization​ ​is​ ​based​ ​around,​ ​this​ ​would​ ​allow​ ​charging
stations​ ​to​ ​become​ ​more​ ​accessible.​ ​Gas​ ​prices​ ​would​ ​likely​ ​not​ ​exist​ ​and
you​ ​may​ ​no​ ​longer​ ​have​ ​to​ ​pay​ ​for​ ​fuel​ ​for​ ​your​ ​car.​ ​Even​ ​today​ ​there​ ​are
free​ ​electric​ ​car​ ​charging​ ​stations​ ​at​ ​the​ ​King​ ​of​ ​Prussia​ ​Mall.​ ​Similar​ ​free
charging​ ​stations​ ​in​ ​areas​ ​with​ ​significant​ ​rivers,​ ​such​ ​as​ ​Chester​ ​County,
PA,​ ​could​ ​be​ ​powered​ ​by​ ​hydropower​ ​turbines​ ​in​ ​rivers​ ​and​ ​lakes​ ​without
disrupting​ ​the​ ​environment.

Hydropower​ ​has​ ​significant​ ​potential​ ​for​ ​meeting​ ​agriculture​ ​energy​ ​needs.

There​ ​are​ ​already​ ​numerous​ ​technologies​ ​that​ ​utilize​ ​the​ ​water​ ​flow​ ​of
irrigation​ ​systems​ ​and​ ​also​ ​generate​ ​energy,​ ​reducing​ ​costs.​ ​There​ ​are​ ​also
hydropower​ ​technologies​ ​that​ ​are​ ​establishing​ ​irrigation​ ​systems​ ​without
using​ ​electricity.​ ​These​ ​systems​ ​use​ ​the​ ​power​ ​of​ ​falling​ ​water​ ​to​ ​directly
drive​ ​and​ ​pressurize​ ​the​ ​central​ ​pivot.​ ​These​ ​central​ ​pivot​ ​systems​ ​save
water,​ ​electricity​ ​costs,​ ​and​ ​can​ ​increase​ ​crop​ ​yields.

“The​ ​Hammerfest​ ​Strom​ ​turbine​ ​rests​ ​on​ ​20-meter​ ​tripods​ ​anchored​ ​to​ ​the​ ​sea​ ​floor.​ ​"If
one​ ​could​ ​extrapolate​ ​from​ ​the​ ​experience​ ​of​ ​offshore​ ​wind​ ​power,​ ​for​ ​which​ ​we​ ​have​ ​a
bit​ ​more​ ​experience,​ ​the​ ​installation​ ​period​ ​is​ ​disruptive​ ​but​ ​nor​ ​damaging,"​ ​says​ ​Rick
Sellers,​ ​head​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Renewable​ ​Energy​ ​Unit​ ​of​ ​the​ ​International​ ​Energy​ ​Agency​ ​in​ ​Paris.
Fish​ ​concentrations​ ​may​ ​even​ ​increase​ ​around​ ​such​ ​installations​ ​because​ ​they​ ​serve​ ​as
artificial​ ​reefs,​ ​providing​ ​habitat​ ​for​ ​algae​ ​and​ ​other​ ​organisms​ ​that​ ​fish​ ​eat.

According​ ​to​ ​project​ ​leader​ ​Bjorn​ ​Bekken,​ ​the​ ​blades​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Hammerfest​ ​Strom​ ​turbine
do​ ​not​ ​change​ ​the​ ​waterflow,​ ​so​ ​they​ ​don't​ ​impede​ ​silt​ ​or​ ​nutrient​ ​flows.​ ​He​ ​adds​ ​that​ ​the
blades​ ​turn​ ​so​ ​slowly​ ​(about​ ​7​ ​revolutions​ ​per​ ​minute)​ ​that​ ​marine​ ​mammals​ ​and​ ​fish
should​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​them,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​blade's​ ​leading​ ​edges​ ​are​ ​rounded​ ​to​ ​minimize
injury​ ​if​ ​a​ ​collision​ ​does​ ​occur.

Not​ ​all​ ​tidal​ ​power​ ​plants​ ​have​ ​large​ ​exposed​ ​blades​ ​or​ ​are​ ​rigidly​ ​attached​ ​to​ ​the​ ​sea
floor.​ ​AquaEnergy​ ​Group​ ​of​ ​Mercer​ ​Island,​ ​Washington,​ ​develops​ ​offshore​ ​power​ ​plants
using​ ​floating​ ​buoys​ ​that​ ​convert​ ​the​ ​bobbing​ ​of​ ​the​ ​waves​ ​into​ ​a​ ​high-pressure​ ​flow​ ​that
powers​ ​an​ ​enclosed​ ​generator.​ ​The​ ​85-foot​ ​buoys,​ ​which​ ​have​ ​been​ ​tested​ ​in​ ​the​ ​North
Sea,​ ​produce​ ​about​ ​80-250​ ​kW​ ​each.​ ​"They're​ ​no​ ​different​ ​than​ ​navigational​ ​buoys​ ​in
their​ ​impact​ ​on​ ​the​ ​environment,"​ ​says​ ​AquaEnergy​ ​CEO​ ​and​ ​president​ ​Alia​ ​Weinstein.”

Second​ ​Round​ ​Rebuttals

● The​ ​production​ ​of​ ​other​ ​alternative​ ​energy​ ​like​ ​hydroelectric​ ​produces​ ​minimal
pollutants
● What​ ​happens​ ​when​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​bad​ ​crop​ ​yield​ ​or​ ​some​ ​predator​ ​manages​ ​to
consume​ ​the​ ​organic​ ​material?​ ​Would​ ​that​ ​not​ ​result​ ​in​ ​having​ ​to​ ​ration​ ​energy?
● What​ ​if​ ​there​ ​is​ ​an​ ​accident​ ​in​ ​these​ ​storage​ ​containment​ ​plants?