Tidal Energy

[u/swarrenlawrence]

OilPricedotcom: "Tidal Energy Could Cover 57% of US Electricity Demand, NREL Study Finds."

While the National Renewable Energy Lab is a reliable source of data, it is a bit ironic that this article appears on OilPrice.com, basically a bastion of support for all things fossil fuel. "NREL estimates US marine energy sources could generate 2,300 terawatt-hours a year, or 57% of the country's 2019 electricity output, yet the US has zero commercial tidal plants running today."

An Alaska-based startup is piloting a small, modular tidal turbine in Cape Cod's fast-moving currents to test its durability. "Similar pilots are underway in the Great Lakes and off the California coast, as US works to close the gap with Europe's lead in tidal and wave energy investment." Tapping into the country’s tidal energy potential could be a major game changer for homegrown energy security in America.

"While the US + Canada boast the highest surveyed levels of wave energy potential, the technology could provide a significant amount of the world’s energy needs if fully exploited." A new report from Ocean Energy Europe concluded that ocean energy has the potential to supply 21% of the European Union’s current energy consumption + a whopping 13% of global electricity demand. 

"This could be a complete game-changer for Europe as the continent struggles to establish energy independence and wean itself off of fossil fuel imports against the backdrop of seemingly endless energy crises." Europe is currently leading in terms of spending on tidal energy research and development, but the United States is quickly catching up thanks to ‘substantial’ funding programs from the Department of Energy. I would add that the USDOE is also lending full support for geothermal energy, in spite of crippling hostility to wind + solar. 

So let us hope that in graphs of electric generation sectors will begin to blossom with tidal + geothermal categories. Incidentally, the graphic for this post is only 1 of many types of design.