Why Has Tidal Power Not Taken Off?

Renewable Energy (Other Energy Resources) / Economics, Batteries

Date posted: 05/24/15

Kristin Majcher reports that judging by the sheer force of the waves during a day at the beach, the ocean seems like an abundant source of renewable energy. Indeed, more than 70 companies have developed technologies to generate electricity from the changing height of the tides or the kinetic power of waves. Other companies are exploring novel methods of generating electricity from the ocean salt content or temperature. Ocean energy has the potential to provide hundreds of gigawatts of power worldwide. The U.K. and U.S. have said that these technologies could provide 20 and 15 percent of their electricity consumption, respectively. But even though companies and governments have invested millions in these technologies over the years, the power generated from the ocean is miniscule, a 2013 Ernst & Young report shows. Here are some of the challenges.