Why Don’t We use Tidal Power More?

Written By Teacher: Teresa Pettitt-Kenney

Hi there! My name is Teresa and I just finished my Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and am excited to pursue environmental education in the future! I am extremely passionate about climate change, equitable climate action, and how education can work to address these issues. 

Renewable energy is an important and exciting topic to discuss in class, yet tidal power is a form that isn’t always talked about. Teaching about unique renewable energy like tidal power is important because it introduces students to innovative ideas and furthers the discussion on challenges to sustainability. Encourage your students to embrace their inner engineer and environmentalist by diving deeper into tidal power and its inner workings by exploring resources, such as this comprehensive video. 

Written By: MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative

The MIT Climate Change Engagement Program, a part of MIT Climate HQ, provides the public with nonpartisan, easy-to-understand, and scientifically-grounded information on climate change and its solutions.

Tidal power leverages the rise and fall of oceanic tides to capture potential or kinetic energy and convert it into other energy forms, often electricity. There are two methods of harnessing tidal power. One method resembles a hydroelectric dam, called tidal barrages, and another relies on underwater turbines that have blades that rotate as water flows by, powering a generator in the process.

Tidal turbines may be installed in water sources ranging from areas with strong ocean currents to tidal streams and estuaries. They may be installed on their own, but larger energy projects commonly install connected rows of turbines, called an array. Tidal barrage systems operate similarly to hydroelectric dams using dam-like structures and submerged gates to control water levels throughout the day and to direct water through turbines.

Michael Howland, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at MIT, studies the physics of Earth’s atmosphere and renewable energy generation systems.  He says that tidal power has one advantage over other renewable energy resources like wind and solar: predictability.