The Tide is turning

Spent a great day down on the south coast yesterday, soaking in the sunshine and fresh air. It did get me thinking however about tidal power.

Britain is an island nation so has ample access to the sea. I just think that maybe tidal power is a better bet than wind farms. Here's my logic.....

Wind farms are ugly and noisy, so if they are built inland they will be unpopular and undoubtedly have some sort of blight on their surroundings. We have just as much assurity on tide strength as we do on wind strength, and if tidal power is focussed on major river estuaries, then you have pretty much a guaranteed flow twice a day, regardless of climactic conditions at the time.

Take the proposed wind farm being built in the Thames estuary - why not use tidal units instead - they are primarily underwater, so have less visual impact on the eye and are probably just as efficient as the proposed wind turbine units.

The impact to shipping is no different, navigable channels will need to be maintained to avoid the turbines, or avoid the tide machines.

UK currently lead the way in tide power research, with serious trials underway in the North of scotland and Wales. Let's hope that these prove to be fruitful, as I for one think it is a much more attractive idea than other 'green' alternatives.

As a practicing Energy Assessor, we are focussed day to day on specific assessment on a small scale for individual houses or properties, but thinking 'big' occasionally is useful too. Now where did I leave that article on anerobic digesters.......