ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the current status, issues and future developments of tidal energy technology. Tidal power facilities can be categorized into two main types: tidal barrages and tidal current turbines, which use the potential and kinetic energy of the tides, respectively. Numerous tidal sites worldwide are considered suitable for development; however, only four tidal barrage power plants are in operation. The four power plants are La Rance tidal power station in France, Annapolis tidal generation, Bay of Fundy, Canada, Kislaya Guba power facility, Russia, and Jangxia Creek, East China sea. Some of the larger sites currently undergoing feasibility studies include the Severn Estuary in the UK, Bay of Fundy in Canada, Mezen' Bay and Tugar Bay in Russia, and the Wash, the Mersey, the Solway Firth, Morecambe Bay and the Humber Estuary in UK. A considerable number of potential tidal barrage sites have been identified for large-scale electricity generation, although only four tidal barrages have been constructed to date.
