The true potential for power generated from sea flow is only just being realised. Tidal currents offer a much greater density of power than air flow while the generating technology can use the expertise gained from windpower. One assessment says that tidal flow in the Scotland's Pentland Firth could eventually deliver 7TWh of electricity a year. With windpower having moved from the revolutionary to the evolutionary phase, tidal power should now become the focus of research. Such a move will result in more megawatts of sustainable power being made available for any given amount of investment. Tidal power is more reliable than wind-power as both direction and strength of flow are predictable. The visual impact of submerged plant is minimal and noise non-existent. The under-sea environment is also more benign than on the surface where oscillating devices that use wave power have to face wave heights ranging from a gentle swell to the slam loads of gale-driven waves.
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