I think I remember learning about tidal energy in grade school--we have been talking about it that long. Here's the 15 second description: Tidal energy is created by the motion of the water that shifts thanks to gravitational forces, or in sum, the sun and moon. Because the Earth's tides are caused by the forces due to gravitational interaction with those heavenly bodies and the earth's rotation, tidal power, in theory, is inexhaustible, and therefore a solid renewable source of energy. A tidal generator harnesses all this phenomena to generate electricity. The stronger the tide . . . the greater the potential for tidal electricity generation. Very few projects exist: off of France, Nova Scotia, and a small Russian one off the Barents Sea.
But the Koreans may be close to building the largest tidal plant on record.
Korea Western Power Co., a subsidiary of KEPCO, the large Korean energy giant, has plans to implement a 520 megawatt plant 200 km south of Seoul. The plans have been discussed since 1980, but pending the results of an environmental impact report, the entire scheme should be up and running by 2014.
Named the Garolim Tidal Plant, KEPCO's plans should help Korea reach its goal of helping Korea gain 11% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. That goal may seem paltry, but Korea is already a leader in smart grid and renewable energy research. Furthermore, the country is almost 100% dependent on imported fossil fuels. Currently
renewables provide only about 2.5% of Korea's energy needs; Garolim is an important step forward.
If there's one country worth watching on the renewable energy front, it's Korea. In November, Jeju Island will host the
G20 Smart Grid Week, and universities there are obsessed with fuel cell and nanotechnology research.
Now if I could only secure an invitation to Jeju for that Smart Grid fête. Is anyone out there going?
