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Tidal farms are used to generate energy, generally electricity, from the high or low tide from any water source, such as rivers and oceans. Tidal energy/power is generated by the tides turning a tidal mill. A tidal farm is a consumer of the water dam and is especially categorized as water power. Tidal and wave farms are very similar but also different. Tidal farms are very much like wind farms. The tidal farms have mills called tidal mills. These tidal mills are driven by waves or tides that turn the mill; no matter how high or how low the tide is.

How tidal farms work best
Tidal farms are anchored turbines in the bottom of the ocean near the narrow parts of any river or ocean. How a tidal generator works is much like a wind mill but under water. The tides create a force that make the turbines move and generate power. This goes for all turbines that are in the farm. Turbines in tidal farms are exposed to sea water and are trying to be made with the least amount of maintenance as possible. These turbines are being made about 16 meters in diameter so it can get the most energy as possible. As a fact, water is 800 times denser than wind, which makes it fairly easier to absorb the energy from. To make the mills turn, it depends on the rotation the earth is going, according the time of the day (if the sun is out or the moon is out). It really just depends on the time of the day. Developing a farm with less technical problems and using the most up to date technology to build a tidal farm is well on its way being built.

For tidal farms to work, tidal farms, or plants, are normally located in areas like bays are; where a small entrance of water can rush in or out of the narrow innings.

Where tidal farms are now
As of this moment, there is only one tidal farm being in use and it is located at Strangford Lough in the United Kingdom. Many countries are looking into making a tidal farm. Many tidal farms are very costly and take time to build. They are a few located around the world. Such as Scotland, Ireland, and England.

History
Tidal mills have been around for many centuries. It is estimated that this invention has been playing a role in Rome since the Roman Empire. The first tidal farm opened off the coast of Portugal and was discontinued, a couple months after the farm was in use, for technical reasons. The largest tidal farm in the world is located of the coast in France. This project was sponsored by a company named Openhydro and French utility company EDF (Electricite de France).

Openhydro is a tidal energy company that provides the manufacturing and installs the system. The French utility company, EDF, is a fairly new company that has been in business since 1999.

Future
There is talk that Scotland is on its way to building their first tidal farm off the coast of Orkney. Scotland installed their first tidal power ray, it can generate 10 MG (megawatts Hammerfest storm turbine). It is expected to be constructed between 2013 and 2015; it will be finalized by 2015. There aren’t very many tidal farms in the world, for it is an expensive and time consuming process with many risks. But as time goes by, technology will keep progressing the way we build the turbines for the making a good tidal farm. As of right now, it is making its way to becoming a resourceful and great source to produce power. France is right on their way to building their first tidal farm of the coast of Brittany. It is projected to put the tidal farm ready for use in 2014. In addition to Scotland’s path towards tidal energy, its goal is to generate all of it energy from these tidal farms by 2030. The maintenance on these under Water Sea turbines are being engineered to be at its least maintenance possible. Although there will be the need of divers to check the turbines, engineers are coming up with a machine that is installed with the turbine to the seabed to hydraulically bring it up to the surface of the water and review it that way.

Benefits
Tidal farms are a good and economic source of producing energy for society. They are also very expensive and costly to build. The tidal farm in France can produce electricity for about 400 acres from where the farm is located. Tides are more expected and predictable when compared to wind and solar power. Using this source doesn’t hurt society, it is environmentally friendly source to produce energy. This source can be used 24/7, 365 days a year. It is a reliable source since we will never run out of ocean water.

Disadvantages
One of the consequences when building a tidal farm in the ocean is the sand underneath it all. Sand is a big part of the ocean and it’s what breaks the waves on the shore. The sand will be mixed the water flowing through the turbines but when sand it picked up from the seabed, which can harm the way the ocean is accumulating the tides and waves. Another consequence when building a farm is the fish that can be caught in the turbines and the maintenance. Although it is required to install some type of cover or cage to protect the fish from swimming into the turbines, it still doesn’t prevent the sand from lifting up from sea bottom. The maintenance on the turbines and mills are very costly and could possibly be a long process. Depending on how many divers there are to complete the procedure.

Relative subjects

 * Tidal power
 * Ocean energy

Reference
Link to a video regarding a demonstration on the installation of a turbine: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WZHz63mczg