It was constructed by Nova Scotia Power, at the time a provincial crown corporation. Power was only generated when the tide was out, for about five hours, twice a day.Ĭonstruction began in 1980, and it opened in 1984. Sluice gates in the causeway allowed the reservoir to be refilled by the incoming tide, and retain the water in the reservoir when the tide recedes. Ī causeway on the Annapolis River created a reservoir which powered a water turbine. The station operated 34 years, mostly with minimal regulatory scrutiny. For example, research from the 1980s showed almost one quarter of the American shad passing through were killed. The station was shut down in April 2019, after the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat found substantial fish mortality caused by the turbine, and a crucial component failed within the generating system. Located upstream of Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, it generated about 30 million kilowatt hours per year, enough for 4500 houses. When operational, it was the only tidal generating station in North America and was one of the few in the world. The energy produced is usually less than ebb generation but electricity is produced over a longer period of time, which can be beneficial depending on what the energy requirements are for a specific area.The Annapolis Royal Generating Station was a tidal power generating station in the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia, Canada. All the water flows through the turbines and, unlike ebb generation, the water is not held back but allowed to flow freely and constantly turn the turbines. Two-way generation uses turbines to generate power during both flood and ebb tide. The water is then held back for a few hours while the tide recedes, the gates are then opened and the water flows through turbines for several hours generating electricity through to low tide. Ebb GenerationĮbb generation uses gates that allow the water to fill a basin to the normal level, these gates are then closed at full tide. Typically the type or class used depends on the environmental circumstances of an area. However, there are two main classes that are used. There are several different types and methods of producing electricity by tidal barrage. It is important to think of tidal power not as a one-off solution for the world's energy needs, but rather, to see it as a contributor to a low- carbon electricity generation portfolio. The other, perhaps obvious, problem with tidal power is that you need tides. Furthermore, barrage systems have high development costs and it can be difficult to justify using so much capital especially when the environmental threats are taken into consideration. Tidal barrages alter the flow of saltwater in and out of estuaries, which can alter the quality of the seawater and thus negatively impact and displace marine life in the area. This also means that tides are easily predictable and repetitive which allows us to know exactly when and how much power is attainable. įurthermore, the Moon and Sun aren't going anywhere anytime soon (nor are their influence on the tidal forces) which means that we can easily produce this type of tidal power for as long as we need. Tidal barrages can be used to prevent flooding of low lying areas - areas that already are at a high risk of flooding - by holding back or releasing water as necessary. As the global effects of climate change becomes more evident, the world is faced with the very real threat of rising sea levels. These types of dams can be used not only to produce renewable energy, but also to reduce flooding. Tidal barrage systems are a tidal power generation method that work similar to hydropower and have sluices that control the tidal flow to drive turbines and generate electricity. Figure 1: At low tide, stored water flows out from the reservoir into the sea and turns the turbines.
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