Tidal energy is a type of energy generated by the gravitational interaction between the Earth, the sun, and the moon, which causes the natural rise and fall of tides. When water passes through a constriction, causing the water to move faster, tidal currents with enough energy for harvesting occur. According to Indian government estimates, the country has a tidal energy potential of 8,000 MW. This includes about 7,000 MW in Gujarat's Gulf of Cambay, 1,200 MW in Gujarat's Gulf of Kutch, and 100 MW in West Bengal's Sunderbans region's Gangetic delta. The surge of ocean waters during the rise and fall of tides generates tidal energy. Tidal power is a renewable energy source. This article will explain to you about Tidal Energy in India which will be helpful in preparing Geography for the UPSC Civil service exam.

What exactly is Tidal Energy?

• Tidal energy is generated by the gravitational interaction between the Earth, the sun, and the moon, which causes the natural rise and fall of tides.
• When water travels through a constriction, which causes the water to move faster, tidal currents with enough energy for harvesting occur.
• The intensity of the water from the rise and fall of tides is a form of kinetic energy, and tidal energy is created using the movement of tides and oceans.
• Tidal power is a type of gravitational hydropower that generates electricity by using the movement of water to push a turbine.
• Tides can be used to generate electricity by creating a reservoir or basin behind a barrage and then passing tidal waters through turbines in the barrage.
• In Gujarat's Gulf of Kutch, a major tidal wave power project worth Rs.5000 crores is being proposed.

How is Power generated from Tidal Energy?

• By constructing floodgate dams across sea/ocean inlets, oceanic tides are used to generate electricity.
• Water flows into the inlet during high tide and is trapped when the gate is closed.
• The water retained by the floodgate flows back to the sea via a pipe.
• This water then passes through a power generating turbine after the tide falls outside the floodgate.

Tidal Energy Power Generation

Tidal Energy Potential of India

• The moon's gravitational force causes the tidal cycle to occur every 12 hours.
• Potential energy is the difference in water height between low and high tide.
• The height of high tide must be at least five metres (16 feet) higher than low tide to capture enough power from the tidal energy potential.
• There are only about 20 places on the planet where the tides are this high, and India is one of them.
• The Gulf of Cambay and the Gulf of Kutch on the west coast of Gujarat have maximum tidal ranges of 11m and 8m, respectively, with average tidal ranges of 6.77m and 5.23m.

Government’s Initiative

• In 2011, the Gujarat government signed an agreement with GPCL, Atlantis Resource Corporation (UK), and PMES, Singapore to build a 250 MW tidal power project in the Gulf of Kutch.
• The first phase of a 50 MW tidal power project at Mandavi in the Kutch district has begun.
• In 2008, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) approved a demonstration project to build a 3.75 MW tidal power plant at Durgaduani Creek in the Sunderbans, West Bengal, but it never saw the light of day.

Challenges

• It has been nearly 40 years since India began efforts to assess and harness tidal power, but the country has yet to make any significant progress in this area, despite rapid progress in other renewable energy sources.
• A parliamentary panel has now requested that the Indian government reassess the potential of tidal power in India, investigate the practically exploitable potential, conduct additional research in the field, and develop a tidal power pilot project.
• In 2007 and 2011, India began construction on two tidal power projects in West Bengal and Gujarat, with installed capacities of 3.75 and 50 megawatts, respectively.
• However, both of these projects were suspended due to exorbitant costs.
• The project cost for the 3.75 MW Durgaduani tidal power project in West Bengal was Rs. 2.38 billion (Rs. 238 crore).
• The estimated cost of the 50 MW tidal power project in Gujarat's Gulf of Kutch was Rs. 7.5 billion (Rs. 750 crore) per megawatt of power.
• Exorbitant costs and environmental risks are two major reasons why tidal power projects have yet to be developed in India.
• Because of various obstacles, tidal power is not actively pursued on a global scale as well.

Advantages of Tidal Energy

• Due to gravitational forces, tides are predictable and consistent in their energy output.
• Tidal energy will become more affordable and efficient as technology advances.
• Due to the stability under various design conditions, it protects against coastal flooding.
• Due to the stability under various design conditions, it protects against coastal flooding.
• Storm surges and waves can be absorbed by tidal lagoons once every 500 years.
• Tidal power equipment and facilities can last much longer and be more cost-effective than other renewable technologies.

Limitations of Tidal Energy

• Construction of tidal power plants is currently costlier due to the high capital requirements.
• Blade strike on fish attempting to enter the lagoon, acoustic output from turbines, and changes in sedimentation processes and habitat change are the main environmental concerns.
• All of these effects, on the other hand, are localised and do not affect the entire estuary or bay.
• Equipment maintenance and repair can be difficult.
• Demand for energy is limited. Since powerful tides only occur 10 hours per day on average, tidal energy storage capacity must be developed.
• It's difficult to provide tidal energy to coastal communities because the tides' energy is often a long way from where the electricity will be used inland.

Conclusion

India has a long coastline with estuaries and gulfs that can be used to harness this energy to its full potential. Tidal streams and ocean currents are vast. Limitless resources can be harnessed for large-scale electricity generation with relatively minor environmental interactions. The National Institute of Ocean Technology in Chennai, which is part of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, is in charge of basic research and development, but more input from other prominent institutions will help us understand and develop technologies more quickly.