Keywords:
Renewable energies, tidal current, tidal range, ocean energy
Abstract
The constant and growing demand for electricity challenges the energy sector to seek new sources of power generation, like the oceanic energy. This type of source has a large theoretical production capacity and due to energy conversion technologies it is observed that the use of tidal energy capacity can occur in several ways: by employing the amplitude variation between ebb tide and flood tide, using a reservoir to harness the potential energy stored in the water column; or by the tidal currents created by the movement of water masses, harnessing the kinetic energy of the fluid. Each of these forms of use has its characteristics, advantages and disadvantages. This paper aims to compare the operation of two tidal power plants, one based on tidal current and the other based on tide height variation, in the state of Maranh˜ao, considering different aspects such as energy generation within the same time cycle, costs and environmental impacts. The simulations are carried out using real data collected at anchorage in the S˜ao Marcos Bay and tide tables provided by the Brazilian Navy.
