Renewable energy is an area of huge importance and growth. A 2011 study suggests that the world could be powered completely by clean energy within 20-40 years.
What’s the problem?
Huge world-first man-made tidal lagoon (video 5:46} could power over 155,000 homes. Swansea Bay has a high tidal range of up to 10.5 m (34 ft), making it an ideal location for tidal power generation. The proposal would see a 9.5 km (6 mi) lagoon wall constructed, halfway round which would be a 550 m (1,804 ft) turbine housing. The turbine housing would provide a means of allowing water to flow in and out of the lagoon as the tide rises and falls. Up to 26 turbines would be contained in the housing and would be driven with the flow of water in and out of the lagoon.
The Tidal Lagoon (Swansea Bay) development group says the lagoon would provide an energy production capacity of 320 MW and would provide sustainable and predictable electricity for 120 years of operation. In addition to generating electricity, the lagoon would provide opportunities for arts, culture, education, recreation and conservation activities.
Engineering ideas
- tidal power, generation, turbine, capacity, flow, electricity
engineering 4 kids 