3 ms·
Tidal generation using dams is a very bad idea. You're taking energy from and releasing energy to the system at times when it's most detrimental to the inertia
by milesvp 9y ago
Tidal generation using dams is a very bad idea. You're taking energy from and releasing energy to the system at times when it's most detrimental to the inertia of the system. Basically you're stealing inertia from the rotation if the earth, which would be ok, except you're amplifying the effects because of timing. You can think of it like swinging in a swing. The way you build up a huge amount of momentum is by shifting your weight at the peaks and troughs of the arc.
- jaggederest 9y agoAll hydropower does this, and changes the rotation of the earth. I believe the stated value was speeding the rotation up a few milliseconds per day due to the fact that so much water is held in the northern hemisphere in reservoirs. The ultimate result is that the moon falls towards the earth a couple micrometers and everything is fine.