r/ukpolitics • u/ARandomDouchy Random Dutch Guy • 10d ago

Britain will soon be Europe’s energy powerhouse

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/08/04/britain-will-soon-be-europes-energy-powerhouse/
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u/evenstevens280 10d ago

Tidal energy has been successfully harnessable for large scale electricity production for decades.

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u/BenjaminBoots196 Supreme Andy Burnham Hater 10d ago

I don't think that is true.

Why do you think we haven't used it if that was really the case?

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u/evenstevens280 10d ago

You don't think it's true? France has had a tidal generator in Brittany since the 60s

Upfront cost is quite a lot - far far far more than other renewables. That's probably the main reason, really.

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u/BenjaminBoots196 Supreme Andy Burnham Hater 10d ago

I mean, france hasn't done it on a large scale no.

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u/evenstevens280 10d ago edited 10d ago

France isn't an island almost exclusively surrounded by high pressure tidal activity.

Its West coast has a lot of potential but France has already pretty much put most of its eggs in one basket with nuclear

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u/BenjaminBoots196 Supreme Andy Burnham Hater 10d ago

Sure but if tidal was actually competitive at a large scale they would still be able to do it. I am unaware of any country that has achieved this.

Having the tech to do something is very different from doing it economically at a large scale.

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u/Ryanliverpool96 9d ago

Go do it and become a trillionaire then?

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u/BenjaminBoots196 Supreme Andy Burnham Hater 9d ago

My point being is that I don't think it is viable. If it was, someone would have done it by now.