Marine Power
Tides, waves and ocean currents contain energy. This energy can be converted into electricity. Electricity can then be used to power our homes, industry, or even vehicles. Marine power could contribute a large portion of our energy needs.
The coast of Wales has strong tidal currents and large tidal ranges. Tides get most of their energy from the pull of the Moon's gravity as it orbits the Earth and from the much smaller pull of the Sun’s gravity.
Tidal energy is unusual in that its energy comes mostly from the Moon rather than the Sun.
When wind blows across the sea it creates waves. Winds get their energy from the sun. So wave energy is just another way which we can convert the suns energy into electricity. The amount of energy waves have depends on
- how strong the wind blows,
- how long it blows,
- the distance that the wave travels.
Wales is on the Eastern side of the Atlantic Ocean. Waves reaching our coastal waters have lots of energy from the westerly prevailing winds, which blow most of the time, and have hundreds of miles of water to build in size.
