Tidal power potential in USA

Recently I have written about the wave & tidal potential resource in UK. It's time to show a new mapping tool for the tidal power potential in USA.

This interactive and web-based GIS system has been created by the Georgia Tech University based on a database-driven mapping tool. You can check their "Assessment of Energy Production Potential from Tidal Streams in the United States"

Check the tidal power potential map in USA

This group from GTU has pointed several clues about tidal energy:

• It can be harnessed wherever there is moving water in significant volumes.


• Tidal stream is deterministic and and the energy production can be forecasted accuratly.


• This predictibility eases the installation, operation and maintenance.


• There are a lot of hot spots: Knik Arm, AK; Tacoma Narrows, WA; Golden Gate, CA; Muskeget Channel, MA; Western Passage, ME, Puget Sound, New York, Connecticut, Cook Inlet, Southeast Alaska, and the Aleutian Islands among others.


• Besides large scale power production, it can be useful as local and reliable energy source for remote and dispersed coastal communities and islands.

Criterias to be taken into account when you are involved in the process of selection of location:

1. Tidal current velocity: the speed and volume of water passing through the site in space and time.


2. Site characteristics:  bathymetry, water depth, geology of the seabed and environmental impacts will determine the deployment method needed and the cost of installation.


3. Electrical grid connection: the seafloor cable distance from the proposed site to a grid access point will help determine the viability of an installation.

UK has no doubts they should develop this industry in order to become leading exporter of wave and tidal power. As the team behind the map has written: "Tidal energy is one of the fastest growing emerging technologies in the renewable sector and is set to make a major contribution to carbon free energy generation."

What will USA do with this tidal potential?