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With the ground bathing in solar heat daily a viable option for renewable energy would seem to be solar panels to replace the heavy pollutants coal and oil. But behind the scenes the making of solar panels releases toxic elements into the environment. Some companies produce fewer pollutants than others while continued research plans to make solar panels thinner to bring less harm.
There are many alternatives to fossil fuels besides solar energy such as geothermal, wind, hydro and biomass. But one that hasn’t been spoken of much is tidal power; harvesting the kinetic energy from the waves brought upon by the moon’s gravitational pull, while wave energy originates from the wind.
There are countless ways to harvesting tidal energy. The tidal stream generator method acts similar to a wind turbine placed underwater. It delivers more power however than wind because of waters density and slow tides bring more energy than slow winds. Applying a shroud causes the venture effect creating a low pressure and increases the flow of water. According to Wikipedia this can increase the output to 4 times.
In controlling floods by the flow of water and producing energy in return there is the tidal barrage or dam. When at high tide the difference in water levels creates potential energy that can be harvested via turbines. In an estuary where river freshwater and the coast come together to form a brackish environment, part of the area can possibly be blocked off to construct a tidal pool with the purpose of a small barrage. But building barrages and dams can block off fish from the environment as they are not able to pass through turbines. It also blocks the salt from the estuaries. This disrupts the marine ecosystem in the given area.
It is also important to know that not all areas are capable of harvesting tidal waves.
“Wave energy resources are best between 30º and 60º latitude in both hemispheres, and the potential tends to be the greatest on western coasts.” - http://www.rnp.org
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2014/11/141111-solar-panel-manufacturing-sustainability-ranking/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_stream_generator
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrouded_tidal_turbine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tidal_barrage#Tidal_lagoon_power
http://www.rnp.org/node/wave-tidal-energy-technology
http://www.wyretidalenergy.com/tidal-barrage/how-a-barrage-works
