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RISE Information Portal - Technologies - Tidal

The generation of electricity from tides is very similar to hydroelectric generation, except that water is able to both ebb and flow, and this must be taken into account in the development of the generators. The simplest generating system for tidal plants, known as an ebb generating system, involves a dam, known as a barrage, across an estuary. Sluice gates on the barrage allow the tidal basin to fill on the incoming high tides (flood tides) and to exit through the turbine system on the outgoing tide (known as the ebb tide). Alternatively, flood-generating systems, which generate power from the incoming tide are possible, but are less favoured than ebb generating systems.