3 ms·

>I assume the art has progressed since then. Not really, no. Even if you completely solved the issue of corrosion (which we absolutely haven't), you'd still ha

>I assume the art has progressed since then. Not really, no. Even if you completely solved the issue of corrosion (which we absolutely haven't), you'd still have to deal with biofouling - anything you leave underwater will rapidly become covered in algae, seaweed and invertebrates. We have antifouling coatings, but a) they're quite toxic, for obvious reasons and b) they need to be regularly renewed. That would be enough of a problem, but you've also got the cost and difficulty of maintaining underwater infrastructure. It's inherently dangerous, very slow and often made impossible by tidal or weather conditions. Offshore wind turbines are already much more expensive to build and maintain than onshore, but tidal generators are on another level entirely.

mytailorisrich 3y ago
The Rance tidal power station [1] in France has been operating since 1966 so I don't think that there are technical issues, at least with this type of tidal power generation (ie. a dam across a tidal estuary and good old turbines to produce electricity). That specific power station doubles as a much needed road bridge, as well. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rance_Tidal_Power_Station https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rance_Tidal_Power_Station
- creer 3y ago
  It has been operating - but it was a research project and it's not like tidal has proliferated since then. Not quite a dead end yet - people are still working on submerged tidal kinds of things. But close.
- jdietrich 3y ago
  It wouldn't be legal to build Rance in the EU today, because of the enormously disruptive effects on the local ecosystem. It's not something that bothers me personally, but it's a total dealbreaker in a country like the UK where wildlife activists hold considerably more political sway that climate activists.
  - mytailorisrich 3y ago
    Yes, that's what I was thinking. There was a project to build a tidal lagoon in Cardiff [1] that was eventually abandoned, and I don't know about the environmental impact. But it had the merit of being ambitious. [1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-41213528 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-41213528
throwaway2037 3y ago
Copper does not foul. It is widely used in aquafarming applications. As I understand the environmental impact is nil.

mytailorisrich 3y ago

The Rance tidal power station [1] in France has been operating since 1966 so I don't think that there are technical issues, at least with this type of tidal power generation (ie. a dam across a tidal estuary and good old turbines to produce electricity). That specific power station doubles as a much needed road bridge, as well. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rance_Tidal_Power_Station https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rance_Tidal_Power_Station

creer 3y ago
It has been operating - but it was a research project and it's not like tidal has proliferated since then. Not quite a dead end yet - people are still working on submerged tidal kinds of things. But close.
jdietrich 3y ago
It wouldn't be legal to build Rance in the EU today, because of the enormously disruptive effects on the local ecosystem. It's not something that bothers me personally, but it's a total dealbreaker in a country like the UK where wildlife activists hold considerably more political sway that climate activists.
- mytailorisrich 3y ago
  Yes, that's what I was thinking. There was a project to build a tidal lagoon in Cardiff [1] that was eventually abandoned, and I don't know about the environmental impact. But it had the merit of being ambitious. [1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-41213528 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-41213528

throwaway2037 3y ago

Copper does not foul. It is widely used in aquafarming applications. As I understand the environmental impact is nil.